The coach the Tennessee Vols were reportedly interested in before hiring Josh Heupel is squarely on the hot seat in 2025
Before the Tennessee Vols hired Josh Heupel in early 2021 to replace Jeremy Pruitt, the program was reportedly interested in hiring then-Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Elliott. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman first reported Tennessee’s interest in Elliott in 2021. Instead of hiring Elliott, Tennessee athletic director Danny White hired Heupel, with whom he had previously […]
Before the Tennessee Vols hired Josh Heupel in early 2021 to replace Jeremy Pruitt, the program was reportedly interested in hiring then-Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Elliott.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman first reported Tennessee’s interest in Elliott in 2021.
Instead of hiring Elliott, Tennessee athletic director Danny White hired Heupel, with whom he had previously worked at UCF.
Elliott spent the 2021 season at Clemson before landing the Virginia head coaching job in 2022.
In 2023, Elliott and the Cavaliers opened the season against Tennessee in Nashville. A couple of weeks before that game (which the Vols won 49-13), Elliott told reporters that he was “close” to taking the Tennessee job.
White, however, strongly denied offering Elliott the job.
White, of course, ended up making the right decision by hiring Heupel.
Heupel has led the Vols to a couple of 10-win seasons, Orange Bowl and Citrus Bowl wins, and a trip to the College Football Playoff in his first four seasons.
Elliott, meanwhile, enters the 2025 season squarely on the hot seat at Virginia.
Feldman updated the “hot seat” status of several college football coaches this week, and he labeled Elliott’s seat as “very warm.”
From The Athletic: He had a terrific run as a Clemson assistant, helping his alma mater become a powerhouse, but in his three seasons at Virginia, Elliott has been underwhelming with an 11-23 overall record and just 6-17 in the ACC. He is coming off his best year, going 5-7 with an upset over then-No. 18 Pitt on the road. Unfortunately, that was sandwiched between two three-game losing streaks. This should be Elliott’s most talented team and the schedule looks favorable. A 3-1 start seems realistic, and the Cavaliers have very winnable games against Washington State, Cal and Wake Forest in the second half of the season. Getting to a bowl might be enough to buy Elliott more time. Short of that, with a buyout under $5 million, UVA might be ready for a change.
No one knows how Elliott would’ve fared at Tennessee, but it’s safe to say that White’s decision to pass on the former Clemson offensive coordinator was absolutely the right one.
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