Johnny Majors is a Tennessee legend. He played for Tennessee in the 1950s and nearly won a Heisman Trophy. He then was an assistant coach for the Vols before jumping to Mississippi State, Arkansas, and eventually becoming the Iowa State head coach. He then left for Pittsburgh, and he took the Panthers to an 12-0 season in 1976.
And then in a surprising move, Majors was hired at Tennessee right after his 12-0 season to come coach the Vols. And he had major success with the Vols.
Majors was 116-62-8 in his time at Tennessee, and he was the head coach of the famous Sugar Vols in 1985. When Johnny Majors talks, people listen.
Majors weighed in with his thoughts on Jon Gruden during an interview with Dan Harralson of Saturday Down South, and he had some very strong and positive things to say about Gruden.
“When I first met him….I was impressed with him and his work habits,” Majors told Harralson. “He was always ready to go. It was Jon’s first job out of college and he was very impressive from every standpoint. He was neat, he was tough, very intelligent, and hard-nosed.”
Gruden was a graduate assistant for Tennessee from 1986-87 and was part of Majors’ staff in those two seasons. And during those two years with the Vols, Gruden left an impression on Majors.
“He was a guy that was dedicated from the very start and tried to be as good as he could be and to be the best,” Majors stated. “He did not settle for anything less and was extremely cooperative and forthcoming. When I asked him a question that he did not know, he would tell you he did not know and was straightforward.
“He was very honest, with great character and leadership qualities.”
Majors would go on to say that Gruden was “one of the best coaches I’ve ever had” on his staff. It’s worth noting that, as Harralson points out, coaches like Jackie Sherrill and Jimmy Johnson were assistants under Majors at points in his coaching career. So Majors is putting Gruden’s name up there with coaches like that.
Tennessee has been tied to Gruden ever since Butch Jones was let go as head coach on Sunday. Many fans and media members, however, have reservations about Gruden’s ability to coach in college. Gruden hasn’t coached in college since he was a wide receivers coach for Pittsburgh in 1991. Since then, he’s been in the NFL or with ESPN.
But according to Majors, his lack of college coaching experience shouldn’t matter.
“Good coaches can coach anywhere and at any level,” Majors said. “Gruden has the energy to coach at any level and he could handle being successful in recruiting. There would be no adjustment for him as smart as he is and as determined and dedicated as he is.”
Majors said “only time will tell” if anything comes to fruition with Tennessee and Gruden. But if Majors’ words are to be believed, then Gruden should have success with the Vols if he does, in fact, take the Tennessee job.
