Current Tennessee Vols assistant coach reportedly interested in another job that just opened
The Tennessee Vols could end up being in the market for a new special teams coordinator this offseason. Current Vols special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler's contract is set to expire at the end of January. And Ekeler, who was born in Nebraska, reportedly has interest in the Nebraska Cornhuskers' special teams coordinator job […]
The Tennessee Vols could end up being in the market for a new special teams coordinator this offseason.
Current Vols special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler's contract is set to expire at the end of January. And Ekeler, who was born in Nebraska, reportedly has interest in the Nebraska Cornhuskers' special teams coordinator job that just recently opened.
Husker Online's Steven Sipple reported Ekeler's interest on Monday.
"Mike Ekeler, and I don't think Mike would mind me saying [that] he's interested…he would do it," said Sipple in regards to Nebraska's special teams coordinator job. "Now, that doesn't mean he's gonna get hired. That doesn't mean Coach (Matt) Rhule wants to hire him."
Sipple also noted this week that Ekeler's parents live in Fremont, which is just 50 minutes north of Lincoln.
Ekeler, who has done a tremendous job with special teams at Tennessee, was previously an assistant coach at Nebraska from 2008 to 2010. Losing him to Nebraska would certainly be a blow to the Vols' coaching staff (not only has Ekeler done a great job with special teams, but he brings an important energetic presence to the program on a daily basis).
It would certainly be understandable if Ekeler left for a job with the Cornhuskers considering his deep connections to the state of Nebraska.
If Ekeler leaves for Nebraska (and it's unclear at this point if Nebraska has serious interest), it could open an on-field coaching position for senior defensive analyst Levorn Harbin (AKA Coach Chop). Tennessee, however, would still need to fill the special teams coordinator role as Harbin would likely focus on outside linebackers/edge rushers. Vols linebackers coach William Inge notably coached special teams at Indiana in 2018 and 2019. Harbin also coached special teams at Georgia Southern in the early 2000s.
