Vol fans are used to coaching searches that take days, weeks, or even months to complete. But Jeremy Pruitt’s search for a new defensive line coach only took an hour from a public point of view.
It was reported on Monday morning that defensive line coach Tracy Rocker would be leaving UT’s staff to take a position on Will Muschamp’s staff at South Carolina. Just over an hour later, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and FOX Sports reported that Pruitt had already found Rocker’s replacement, hiring Colorado defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh.
SOURCE: #CU D-line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh is leaving to become the new defensive line coach at #Tennessee.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 10, 2020
Brumbaugh has served as Colorado’s defensive line coach for two years, joining Mel Tucker’s staff when he was hired as the Buffaloes’ head coach. Prior to that, he was a co-defensive coordinator at Maryland as well as their defensive line coach for two seasons. He’s also coached defensive lines at Kentucky (2013-16), Syracuse (2010-11), and Louisiana Tech (2008-09). He’s also coached at Jacksonville State, East Mississippi Community College, and Chattanooga.
The 43-year-old coach is credited with having developed several future NFL draft picks along the defensive line. At Kentucky, he coached Bud Dupree and helped turn him into a first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also coached Za’Darius Smith at UK, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
All in all, four of Brumbaugh’s defensive linemen earned All-SEC honors while at Kentucky.
While at Syracuse, Brumbaugh coached Chandler Jones to All-Big East honors, and Jones was taken No. 21 overall in the first round by the New England Patriots in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Brumbaugh coached under Les Miles at LSU as a strength and conditioning coach from 2006-07. There, he helped the Tigers win a national title.
As a player, Brumbaugh was a starting defensive lineman at Auburn. The Gainesville, Florida native played for the Tigers from 1995-99 and started 44 games, recording 291 tackles and 15 sacks. He was a Freshman All-SEC selection in 1995 and was voted a Second Team All-SEC lineman in 1996 and a First Team All-SEC performer in 1997.
At Colorado, Brumbaugh made $175,000 this past season according to the USA Today assistant coaching salary database. This past year, Tracy Rocker made $505,000 at Tennessee.
