Former Tennessee coach Mike Ekeler delivers heartfelt goodbye to Vols fans and says the best moment of his career happened at UT
After spending four seasons as the Tennessee Vols' special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach, Mike Ekeler is heading west to join Matt Rhule's coaching staff at Nebraska. Ekeler, who is from Nebraska, was part of Josh Heupel's inaugural coaching staff at Tennessee in 2021. The popular assistant coach took to Twitter/X.com on Sunday to offer a […]
After spending four seasons as the Tennessee Vols' special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach, Mike Ekeler is heading west to join Matt Rhule's coaching staff at Nebraska.
Ekeler, who is from Nebraska, was part of Josh Heupel's inaugural coaching staff at Tennessee in 2021.
The popular assistant coach took to Twitter/X.com on Sunday to offer a heartfelt goodbye to Tennessee fans.
"THANK YOU VOL Nation, players and staff," wrote Ekeler. "It’s been an amazing four years filled with incredible memories! My family doesn’t have words to express our gratitude. I’m proud of the INCREDIBLE specialist and [outside linebacker] rooms we’ve built for a bright future."
Ekeler also noted, while quoting a tweet from former Vols kicker Chase McGrath, that his all-time favorite moment in his coaching career happened while at Tennessee.
And that, of course, was McGrath's game-winning field goal against Alabama in 2022.
Ekeler won't have to wait long to see Tennessee on the football field again. The Vols and the Cornhuskers are scheduled to play a home-and-home in 2026 and 2027 (2026 will be in Lincoln and 2027 will be in Knoxville).
Though I'm sure Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello, who developed a close relationship with Ekeler over the last few years, will be hoping to run into Ekeler in Omaha in June if the Volunteers are able to reach the College World Series for a third straight season.
