Tennessee Vols: Why Jeremy Pruitt made the right decision to hire from within
According to various reports, Jeremy Pruitt made some coaching staff adjustments on Friday. Tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer will move to inside linebackers, while director of programming Joe Osovet will receive a promotion and coach tight ends in 2020. Typically, hiring from within isn't popular among fans. It seems like folks are always clamoring for […]
According to various reports, Jeremy Pruitt made some coaching staff adjustments on Friday.
Tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer will move to inside linebackers, while director of programming Joe Osovet will receive a promotion and coach tight ends in 2020.
Typically, hiring from within isn't popular among fans.
It seems like folks are always clamoring for a "big name" to be hired. And moving an assistant from offense to defense is usually even less popular.
But I think Pruitt made a good decision by moving Niedermeyer and promoting Osovet.
In Niedermeyer's case, it's clear that he's a rising star in the business. He's a tremendous recruiter and he's an incredibly bright guy. Pruitt has said on several occasions that Niedermeyer could coach on either side of the ball (Niedermeyer coached linebackers as a GA alongside Pruitt at Alabama).
Moving from tight ends to linebackers coach is a bit of a promotion for Niedermeyer. Tight ends coach is often viewed as the lowest on the totem pole of the on-the-field roles. I think it's obvious, given Niedermeyer's big personality, that he's destined for bigger things in college football than just being a position coach. Perhaps if UT defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley leaves (or when he leaves I should say, he's eventually going to be a NFL DC or a head coach), Niedermeyer could take on a larger role in Tennessee's defense.
Either way, I think it's smart by Pruitt to give Niedermeyer an important role like linebackers coach. The Vols need to keep the man affectionally known as "moose" around as long as possible.
As for Osovet, this promotion is probably long overdue. Osovet is a genius when it comes to RPOs (which is why Pruitt rescued him from New York and brought him to Knoxville). That makes him extremely valuable in today's college football world. Eventually, other programs are going to start targeting Osovet. Moving him to an on-the-field role should keep him on Rocky Top for the foreseeable future. I think he's more than ready for this role, too. He certainly deserves it.
Osovet could be Tennessee's version of Joe Brady (who helped turn Joe Burrow in a record breaking quarterback at LSU) — an innovative offensive mind that helps take the Vols' offense to the next level.
Pruitt has always come through when a coaching hire needs to be made. Sometimes it's with a big name, other times it's with a savvy move that will probably pay major dividends.
Featured image via Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
