After a brief reset period in Tennessee’s search for a head coach, the hunt resumed late Saturday night. And new Tennessee athletics director Phillip Fulmer has apparently already reached out to one of his top candidates.
According to a report from 247Sports (it’s a VIP article), Fulmer has contacted former LSU head coach Les Miles to ask about the head coaching job at Tennessee. The report doesn’t specify if Miles has any interest in the job himself or if the talks progressed past gauging interest, but contact has reportedly been made.
Miles was 114-34 in 11-plus seasons with LSU. He was fired just four games into the 2016 season after LSU got off to a 2-2 start and elected to go with interim head coach Ed Orgeron instead. Miles had won 10 or more games seven times in his 11 full seasons with LSU, although he hadn’t done so since 2013 before his firing. He took LSU to to two national title games and won the first one in 2007 during his third year as the Tigers’ head coach. Miles also won the SEC title three times (2005, 2007, 2011).
But according to The Advocate, when Miles was contacted about the report he replied back to them saying “No real news!!” in a text message.
The 247Sports report also speculates that USC offensive coordinator and former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin has shown interest in not only becoming the Vols’ head coach, but also in joining Miles’ staff should Miles become head coach.
According to the report, Martin would be interested in joining Miles’ staff as an offensive coordinator and associate head coach role if Miles got the job.
Martin currently serves as USC’s offensive coordinator and has been on staff with the Trojans since 2012. He’s been a receivers coach and passing game coordinator for USC before getting promoted to offensive coordinator, and he was the receivers coach for Kentucky from 2010-11.
If Miles doesn’t get an offer, who will Fulmer turn to next? We have a full list of candidates that could be next in line after Miles.
2 Responses
My old roommate and teammate Doug Atkins and I were always in Coach Fulmer’s camp and totally disagreed with his dismissal as the Vols Head Coach . In looking down from Heaven I know beyond doubt that Doug has that big old smile on his face with the prospect of Coach Fulmer once again answering the call in behalf of our beloved Vols .
The AD job for coach Fulmer is way overdue
Thanks Coach for stepping up. He was the only solution for the mess we were in