New staff brings new energy to Tennessee football spring practice
They have spent the last few weeks and months recruiting together, getting to know each other and talking football.
They have diagrammed plays, watched film and projected future lineups.
The University of Tennessee football coaches will finally get to take the field together on Tuesday when the Vols open spring practice.
UT will hold 15 spring practices, concluding with the Orange and White Game on April 22 (SEC Network, 4 p.m. EDT) at Neyland Stadium. The Vols are scheduled to practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
►Related: 5 things to watch as Vols open spring practice
In what he called “not a typical offseason,” UT head coach Butch Jones conducted a significant staff makeover. Jones hired four new coaches from outside the program and promoted two coaches from within.
“I have been excited about the staff. I think the chemistry has been there almost instantaneously,” Jones said on Monday during a news conference at the Ray & Lucy Hand Digital Studio. “We have done a great job of spending quality time together and I think any time you add individuals that have the experience that they have, it lends itself to creative thinking, maybe new ideas and new energy.”
►Related: Mike Strange: New staff, spring challenges for Tennessee football
The coaching turnover was a result of Jones firing two coaches, having two leave for other jobs and having one move to another position within the program.
Former Michigan, San Diego State and Ball State head coach Brady Hoke is UT’s new defensive line coach. Charlton Warren is the new defensive backs coach, Kevin Beard is the new wide receivers coach and Mike Canales is the new quarterbacks coach.
Larry Scott was promoted to offensive coordinator and Walt Wells was promoted to offensive line coach.
The Vols also added new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson, who has already made a “monumental difference" in helping players become stronger and more explosive, according to Jones.
►Related: Mike Strange: Does bigger, stronger mean better for Vols?
UT's staff has been immersed in learning a new vocabulary to make sure everyone is on the same page this spring.
“We have spent a lot of time together in making sure that we’re speaking the same language,” Jones said. “We have a language that we speak here from our coaching cues to our program terminology, so we have spent a lot of time on that.”
Although UT's players have met the new coaches in meetings, Tuesday will be the first time they get on the field and learn how they operate in that setting.
“I think it’s been invigorating for our players. They have an opportunity. Everyone has a clean slate and you are responsible for creating your own identity both on the field and off the field of how you win every day,” Jones said. “So again, these players can walk in and it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past – good, bad or indifferent. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself, you have that opportunity to really be responsible for what you create on a daily basis. It has been great.”
The last addition to UT’s staff was Beard, who was hired March 1 after Zach Azzanni announced he was leaving to be the wide receivers coach for the Chicago Bears. Beard, a former University of Miami wide receiver, has made a quick impression on the Vols.
“I think when you look at Coach Beard I think the thing that hits you is the ability to relate to our players. He has a unique way of being able to relate to them,” Jones said. “He can go on the field and demonstrate what he wants, and I think in today’s era of coaching and teaching a lot of it is through repetition and being able to demonstrate that. He has very, very good communicative skills so he is able to communicate with them. He’s done a good job of earning that trust.”
►Related: Walt Wells, Kevin Beard coaching on familiar ground at Tennessee
UT’s goal over the next month is to establish the identity of "Team 121," build toughness and develop leadership.
Jones said all starting spots are open, the quarterback competition will be judged on “consistency and competition” and UT may tweak the offense and defense to best fit the strengths of the players.
Having new voices in the coaching meetings and new eyes on the film has provided Jones with a fresh outlook.
“It’s been great for me to hear different perspectives, so again I think the chemistry has been good. They have been a great fit here,” Jones said. “They all want to be here and they understand the expectations which come about with Tennessee football. I have been very pleased.”