Butch Jones Hired By Tennessee

December 7th, 2012 07:44 AM║ Posted By: MrSEC.com ║ Permalink ║ Schools: Tennessee
Tags: Butch Jones, Cincinnati Butch Jones, Derek Dooley

As we reported last night, the University of Tennessee offered its vacant head coaching job to Cincinnati’s Butch Jones. Today, that offer is coming to fruition. Tennessee has made it official – Butch Jones is the new Vols head coach. He will be introduced at a 2:30 E.T. news conference. In three seasons at Cincinnati, he was twice named Big East Coach of the Year.

GoVolsXtra has posted a timeline of the coaching search. From the firing of Derek Dooley to the hiring of Butch Jones, the process took 19 days.

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11 comments

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Thern

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I'm over the banter about who has a top ten job a top 25 job, etc. I think it is so overstated. Truth is, the job is only as good as the last guy that left it. I am sure once Saban steps down, many big name coaches will clamor to get that gig, because the table is set for immediate success. But, in most situations a school is looking to hire a coach because the last guy was fired and whomever replaces him has got a rebuilding job with a fanbase that demands quick results. I understand there is some stigma with the guy that follows the legend, but I believe it's more difficult to succeed at a school that has been down for several years. Tennessee's tradition, facilties, and historical success are among the tops in the nation, not to mention its commitment to football, but it's going to be a much tougher job than any of the big game coaches would have left to take over the reins.

badbadhoggie

Tennessee needs to be realistic, they scream that UT is a top ten job all the time....the only people that say that are a few reporters/bloggers...obviously the coaching profession doesn't think so...yes it's a good job with nice facilities, fan support etc, but most bcs level schools can offer the same! Maybe they need to quit making excuses as being the "Harvard of the South" and the acedemic standards are to high for coaches to compete and to recruit the top althetes, give me a break! This isn't the 70's/80's most all programs have plenty of money when needed and are playing on something of a more level play field these days...remember the only school that can live in the past and get away with it is Notre Dame...

GeoffDawg

@badbadhoggie Since when has UT ever been considered the Harvard of the South? US News&World Report has them ranked at #101. About middle of the pack in the SEC.

HoustonVol

The administration at UT has been raising the profile of the school for the past three decades. USN&WR is not a great judge of how good a school is. It factors in items like cost of tuition and acceptance rates. UT has been raising the admission standards to be more selective since the 80's. They are not making exceptions for student athletes, so they have to be admitted with the same standards as the general population. There are also not any "athlete" majors. However they do have a multi-million dollars academic support center that should make it easy for any student athlete to remain eligible that wants to. Of course that center also got heat from the NCAA about 10 years ago. Of course the last time I checked, ND, Standford, and even Vandy are having no issues fielding good teams. The last time I checked - UT is no where as tough as those schools to get into and pass classes. So to making an excuse of academics is weak, and just that an excuse.

Thern

@GeoffDawg @badbadhoggie

It was a little tongue in cheek. Some background--Fulmer, Dooley and some other coaches have complained that the University has some academic policies that makes it difficult to compete with other SEC schools. For example, apparently there are majors for 'at-risk' student athletes that aren't quite as challenging where the athletes are better able to stay qualified academically. The complaint is that the university doesn't offer some of these programs where other universities in the league. There were some other issues as well, where it appears that he academic side of the university is at odds with the athletic side. I think its kind of a lame excuse, but its out there.

badbadhoggie

@GeoffDawg @badbadhoggie

Its the Vol faithfull that are blaming their coaching and winning woes on the unbelieveable academic standards they have at UT

VolTN

@GeoffDawg @badbadhoggie I believe he's thinking Sewanee as the "Harvard of the South"

etsu2k4

As an Alum, I supported TN Football when they made decision to fire Fulmer only to hire Kiffin and then Dooley. I thought the moves were wrong but bought into the idea that as fans we needed to "give them a chance". I bought the shirts, hats, tickets and PPV. They rewarded my loyalty with losing football games and becoming the joke of the SEC...not to mention college football. With this hire, I am done with supporting UT Football until they get things fixed and they can start with firing Dave Hart!

VolTN

@etsu2k4 You realize that the Fulmer firing and Kiffen/Dooley hiring were done when Dave Hart was at Bama, right? Mike Hamilton is more to blame with the current issues than Hart. At least judge Hart after Butch Jones has coached a few games. Everyone is a critic before we see the results on the field.

viciousdawg

So the SEC East gets to play a Big Least coach? This should be fun.

GeoffDawg

Well, on the plus side, they got somebody with a track record of beating Vandy.

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