The Tennessee Titans have hired former UT kicker James Wilhoit as the team’s kicking coach, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced Friday.
“He’s worked with (Titans punter) Brett (Kern) in the past,” Vrabel told reporters. “We looked at a few guys— that he could assist us as we move forward towards the season. We’ll do our best and I know we’re going to find guys that can make field goals.”
Wilhoit had previously served as a personal kicking trainer for high school and college kickers including former Tennessee kicker Aaron Medley.
The Hendersonville, Tennessee native has also served as the kicking coach at middle Tennessee football power Brentwood Academy.
Wilhoit is one of the greatest kickers in Tennessee football history, ranking third in the program’s history with 59 made field goals. Wilhoit ranks seventh all time in Tennessee field goal percentage.
The 2007 graduate from the University of Tennessee finished his playing career with 135 total points.
Wilhoit also has one of the greatest kicks in the history of Tennessee football, drilling a 50-yarder to beat Florida in 2004.
In the 2004 Florida-Tennessee game, James Wilhoit missed an extra point to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Then, he got a chance for redemption with a 50-yarder to win the game for @Vol_Football… pic.twitter.com/IKTDi1vH59
— SEC on CBS 🏈 (@SEConCBS) December 3, 2020
Tennessee has struggled to find consistent place kicking the last two seasons and Wilhoit has spoken out on Twitter about the Titan’s lack of a kicking coach.
The Titans open their 2021-22 season on Sept. 12 against Arizona.
