‘And he still chose to leave’ – Comments from Vols insider will change some fans feel about Josh Heupel at Tennessee

For the first time since he took over as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols five years ago, Josh Heupel is hearing some noise this offseason. Now, to be clear, Heupel isn’t on the hot seat. Nor should he be. But after going 8–5 in 2025, with a 21-point loss to Vanderbilt and a […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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For the first time since he took over as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols five years ago, Josh Heupel is hearing some noise this offseason.

Now, to be clear, Heupel isn’t on the hot seat. Nor should he be. But after going 8–5 in 2025, with a 21-point loss to Vanderbilt and a loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl, there’s some restlessness among Vols fans this offseason.

I don’t necessarily think that’s fair — the parity in the sport thanks to NIL and the transfer portal means the margin between an 8-5 season and a spot in the College Football Playoff is often only a few plays (that was certainly true for the Vols in 2025). But it’s the reality of college football these days.

Tennessee, though, couldn’t “run it back” in 2026 after coming up short this past season.

And that’s why Heupel has aggressively made some big-time moves over the last 45 days. Hiring a national championship-winning defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles and a national championship-winning strength coach in Derek Owings shows that Heupel isn’t messing around going into 2026.

It’s not just Heupel’s determination to make changes this offseason that should be impressive to Tennessee fans, either. The fact that Heupel was able to hire a couple of the biggest names in the sport — after missing the playoff — is what I find most impressive about the moves Tennessee’s made.

Anyone can set out to make a big hire or two, but not every coach can actually close the deal.

Comments from Vols insider will change some fans feel about Josh Heupel at Tennessee

The “loud” portion of the Tennessee fan base has spent plenty of time this offseason questioning whether Heupel has what it takes to bring a championship to Rocky Top.

VolQuest’s Austin Price joined WNML’s Josh and Swain on Wednesday and he shared some insight that makes it clear how much support Heupel is receiving at Tennessee. Price also pointed out how crazy it is that Heupel was able to swipe Indiana’s strength coach despite the Hoosiers going 16-0 this season.

“They’re (Tennessee’s athletic department) backing him as much as one can back a coach in this era,” said Price of Heupel and the Vols. “With the investment in the strength staff, the investment in the defensive staff. We’ve seen these moves before, whether it be staff or support staff. And when [a coach] is on shaky ground, the athletic department and the athletic director is not going, ‘Here’s $1.2 [million] for a strength coach. Here’s $2 plus [million] for your coordinator. Here’s another $800,000 for the safeties coach/co-coordinator.’ You’re not seeing that type of investment if someone’s on shaky ground.

“And I think it just speaks to Josh Heupel as Tennessee’s coach. (UT AD) Danny White’s got full full faith in him, and he wants to make sure Josh has the ability to go out there and get high-end people around him. They saw this as a chance to improve the defensive staff. They took it. They went and did it. They saw this as a chance to improve the strength and conditioning program. And you go out and you land the national champion strength coach. I mean, it speaks volumes. And obviously, Heupel had the tie with Derek Owings. He had one year with him (at UCF in 2018). Owings had six years with Curt Cignetti (at James Madison and Indiana) and he still chose to leave for whatever reason….he chose to come take a swing at Tennessee in the SEC. I just think it speaks a lot about Josh Heupel and what he’s like to work for. Because obviously, [Owings] worked for [Heupel] for one year. And Heupel is one that people generally do like to work for.”

I don’t think Owings is leaving Indiana after going 16-0 and winning a national championship unless he has the utmost respect for Heupel.

And if that’s how arguably the best strength coach in the nation feels about Heupel, maybe the “loud” portion of the fan base should follow suit — at least until Heupel gives fans a reason not to believe (and an 8-5 season with a few bad plays doesn’t seem like a good reason).

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