While there’s been a lot of continuity with the nine full-time assistant coaches, Butch Jones continues to put together his support staff – the graduate assistants, quality control coaches and similar positions – the spots that always have more turnover in college football.
The popular coaching tracking website FootballScoop.com reports that the Vols will make several moves including, officially shifting former graduate assistant Nick Sheridan to quality control coach with a focus on quarterbacks. That’s a move that Jones alluded to in a press conference last week, and a move that signals that Sheridan, a former Michigan quarterback who also has stints as a passing game coordinator at Western Kentucky and South Florida on his resume, will continue to serve as a de facto quarterbacks coach for the Vols. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is the quarterbacks coach in title, though during open practices in 2015, he primarily worked with the offensive line while Sheridan led the quarterback drills.
DeBord, prior to 2015, hadn’t officially served as a quarterbacks coach since 1986.
The Vols are also promoting former Butler defensive lineman Derek Day from graduate assistant to defensive quality control coach. Day previously served in a similar capacity at both Western Kentucky and Iowa State. Cameron Clemmons, a Mt. Juliet native and former starting offensive lineman at Western Kentucky, will be one of the graduate assistants, likely working on the offensive side of the ball.
