HOOVER, Ala. – SEC Media Days is the unofficial start of the 2016 college football season, and as the season gets underway, Butch Jones announced some title changes for three members of his coaching staff.
Former Miami interim head coach and newcomer Larry Scott, who took the tight ends job vacated by Mark Elder, will be the special teams coordinator for Tennessee. Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Robert Gillespie will be the assistant head coach for offense linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen will be designated as the defensive coordinator for the run game.
“Very well deserved,” Jones said of the staff changes. “They’ve earned those titles and we’re excited about that and that will help us in the preparation for the coming year.”
Six of the seven “position coaches” now have a special title of some form in addition to the position they coach. Offensive line coach Don Mahoney is the lone exception at this point.
Here’s what the coaching staff looks like with updated titles now:
Butch Jones: Head coach
Mike DeBord: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Bob Shoop: Defensive coordinator
Steve Stripling: Defensive line coach/associate head coach
Willie Martinez: Defensive backs coach/assistant head coach (defense)
Tommy Thigpen: Linebackers coach/defensive coordinator for run defense
Zach Azzanni: Wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator
Robert Gillespie: Running backs coach/recruiting coordinator/assistant head coach (offense)
Larry Scott: Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator
Don Mahoney: Offensive line coach
