Earlier today it was reported that former Vol defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was joining Mississippi State’s coaching staff as their defensive coordinator. Now it appears another Butch Jones assistant coach has found a new coaching home.
Mike Canales, who was hired on to be Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach prior to the 2017 season, is heading to UTEP to be the Miners’ offensive coordinator according to Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star. Canales served as the Vols’ quarterbacks coach for just one season before Butch Jones was fired as head coach. New Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt elected not to retain Canales on his staff.
Canales hasn’t been an offensive coordinator since 2010-15 when he served as the offensive coordinator for North Texas. He was also the interim head coach for North Texas in both 2010 and 2015 and served as the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach along with being the OC from 2011-15 with them as well.
According to the USA Today Sports database of assistant coach salaries in college football, Canales was making $305,000 with Tennessee. His buyout with the Vols will be mitigated with this new position, as will Bob Shoop’s and any other Vol assistant under Butch Jones who take a new job for next season.
Under Canales, the Vols’ passing attack and performance by quarterbacks took a step back. The Vols averaged just 173.7 passing yards and only tossed 11 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions on the season.
So far, the only Butch Jones assistant coach to be retained by Pruitt is running backs coach Robert Gillespie.
