A Week Later: The Vols’ Coaching Search Continues

Willie Taggart

Quick Bio: Willie Taggart has become one of the hotter names in coaching despite not having a ton of tangible success to point to at a big time school. But he’s done a great job building up programs, and that’s why Oregon decided to give him a shot.

Pros: Taggart has improved every school he’s coached at. He took over at Western Kentucky in 2010 and took them from 2-10 his first year to a 7-5 regular season and bowl appearance in his third and final year. He then accepted the South Florida job in 2013 and went 2-10 his first season before climbing to 11-2 and a division title in 2016. Oregon came calling after that season, and he’s currently in his first season as the Ducks head coach.

Cons: As mentioned above, Taggart is still in his first season with Oregon. It’s unlikely he would leave there after just one year. Plus, his job at Oregon is his first major job. He’s likely not proven enough yet to most Vol fans.

Kacy Rodgers

Quick Bio: A UT graduate, Kacy Rodgers has spent the last decade and a half in the NFL coaching defenses. He’s coached in and around the state of Tennessee in college as well, but he’s been in the NFL since 2003 as a defensive line coach or defensive coordinator.

Pros: Rodgers has that “orange blood” that many Vol fans want, and he’s had success on the defensive side of the ball as a coach. He went to Tennessee and is from the state, so he knows what it takes to be a Vol.

Cons: Rodgers has never been a head coach and just recently became a defensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2015. He would be a good addition as a defensive coordinator, but it remains to be seen how he would do as a head coach.

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