Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
USA Today: “Kiffin served as the head coach of the Vols in 2009. He set a 7-6 (4-4 SEC) record with a win over Georgia.”
247 Sport takesKiffin still has a lot of love for Tennessee and says so on social media, but he just signed a multi-year extension to stay with the Rebels earlier this month. And given the current state of the program, would a jump back to Knoxville from Oxford be a bit of a sideways move for the 45-year-old attacking guru?
Billy Napier, Louisiana
247 Sport takes: The preferred bettor at +300 to get the job according to Sportsline, Louisiana’s successful coach spent four seasons under Nick Saban in Alabama and is waiting for an ideal opportunity – one that fits his “blueprint.” So far, Auburn and South Carolina didn’t offer either, but maybe the situation in Tennessee meets its criteria.
Hugh Freeze, Liberty
247 Sport takesNo doubt it would be a risk to the Vols to hire Freeze, who was fired from Ole Miss amid infractions, given Pruitt’s impeachment for good reason. Bruce Feldman, college football insider, said Freeze to Tennessee this week is unlikely.
“Now that I’ve known Hugh Freeze, I know he dreamed of that job to become Tennessee’s head coach,” Feldman said on ESPN Radio on Wednesday. “He has done very well at Liberty. He is a great game caller and coach. If Hugh Freeze got the job at Tennessee, he would win there faster, probably than anyone else I can think of. The problem is, he was fired from Ole Miss over a scandal not just for violations of personal conduct … but NCAA issues that were big not only for Ole Miss, but also for the SEC.
I’d be very surprised, let alone the optics Tennessee would face … people would say, ‘Wait a minute, you’re talking about integrity and then hiring Hugh Freeze? “I don’t know how Greg Sankey, the SEC Commissioner, would sign that appointment. Especially with the NCAA in line. If all this NCAA stuff with Jeremy Pruitt and his staff wasn’t lurking … I could see some Tennessee power brokers go. See, this guy can win here and wants the job. He could be the man. “But I don’t see Greg Sankey letting that happen. “
Gus Malzahn, former Auburn HC
247 Sport takes: Was Malzahn undervalued on the Plains? He beat Nick Saban several times, won 77 games in eight seasons, and captured a conference championship during the 2013 campaign. Best known as the mastermind behind Auburn’s attack during the 2010 national championship season, the Vols were able to use offensive innovative concepts.
Chris Petersen, former Washington HC
247 Sport takes: If there is a man available with 147 career wins as a darkhorse contender and has in the past led a program to the College Football Playoff that does not recruit at the Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State caliber level, Tennessee might be able to take a closer look. view and gauge his interest. Would Petersen retire to coach in the SEC? He was a winner in Washington State and Boise and it’s not easy.
Jeff Hafley, Boston College
247 Sport takes: Hafley is currently recruiting at an “all-time high” with Boston College, so imagine the level at which he could get players with significantly more resources in Knoxville. He made the most of his first season with the Eagles and instilled confidence in his players. He’s preaching a vision, and that’s exactly what Tennessee needs right now.
Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina
247 Sport takes: Chadwell is more than a flavor of the month lighting rod after a spectacular season of 11 wins with the Chanticleers. He would shock Tennessee offensively with an innovative philosophy. However, Chadwell signed a seven-year extension in December, leaving him with Coastal Carolina for the 2027 season.
Tom Herman, former Texas HC
247 Sport takes: Herman found success in Texas, but not to the level expected in one of the country’s blue bleeds. Herman’s wife recently scolded a report that he was interested in the South Carolina job after the Gamecocks parted ways with Will Muschamp this season, so maybe a stint in the SEC isn’t what he’s looking for at the moment.
Jake Spavital, State of Texas
247 Sport takes: With room to grow as one of the smartest attackers in the country, Tennessee should take the long-term route with Spavital. At the age of 35, Spavital is only 5-19 as a head coach at Texas State after naming the West Virginia, California and Texas plays A&M. He would certainly be a risky tenant, but an affordable one.
Marcus Satterfield, OC in South Carolina
USA TodaySatterfield was Tennessee Tech’s head coach from 2016-17, compiling a 6-16 record. He is from Greenback, Tennessee and was a wide receiver and punt in East Tennessee state (1995-98).