Tennessee lost just one assistant coach this offseason when Mike Ekeler left Knoxville for a position at Nebraska after spending four years on Josh Heupel’s staff.
While the Vols lost just one coach, they had to replace two different roles since Ekeler was both Tennessee’s special teams coordinator and outside linebacker coach.
Heupel promoted a pair of coaches already on staff to fill the two roles on his staff tabbing Evan Crabtree as the Vols’ new special teams coordinator and Levorn Harbin, better known as Coach Chop, as their new outside linebackers coach.
“We are excited about the cohesiveness of our coaching staff,” Heupel said in a statement. “Chop and Evan understand the culture and standard of excellence that we have built here over the past four years. Both have strong relationships with our players, and it will make for a seamless transition as we get ready for spring practice.”
Crabtree spent the last three years on Tennessee’s support staff as an assistant special teams coach. The former Miami (Ohio) long snapper served in an active position working with Tennessee’s specialists.
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“We have taken great pride in our special teams units being among the best in the country since we arrived here,” Heupel said of Crabtree. “Evan has played a pivotal role in that success.”
Harbin has been a senior defensive analyst for Tennessee for each of the last four years. He worked closely with Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who he previously worked with at Auburn, and went out on the road recruiting.
His experience working with and recruiting Tennessee defensive linemen and outside linebackers made him a natural fit as the Vols’ new outside linebackers coach.
“Chop has been a valuable part of our recruiting efforts,” Heupel said.
Heupel did go outside the facility to make one addition to Tennessee’s coaching staff, hiring longtime NFL special teams coach John Bonamego as an assistant special teams coach. Bonamego has 16 years of experience as an NFL assistant coach and also spent four years as a college head coach at Central Michigan.
“John owns nearly two decades of coaching special teams at the highest level,” Heupel said. “As a former head coach, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge into our program.”
