‘I don’t hide it’ – Former Vols interim head coach Kevin Steele leaves no doubt on how he feels about Josh Heupel as Tennessee’s coach
Kevin Steele was the Vols’ interim head coach for a couple of week after Jeremy Pruitt was fired in early 2021. He wasn’t retained after Josh Heupel took over as Tennessee’s head coach.
Kevin Steele holds an interesting place in Tennessee Vols football history.
Steele, of course, was a linebacker at Tennessee in the late 1970s, and he served as an assistant coach under Johnny Majors during two separate stints in the 1980s.
Younger Vols fans, however, may remember Steele better for his brief stint as Tennessee’s interim head coach in early 2021.
Steele served as the Vols’ interim head coach for nine days after Jeremy Pruitt was fired.
He wasn’t retained by Tennessee after Josh Heupel was hired to replace Pruitt.
Steele, who was hired just a week before Pruitt was fired, was employed by Tennessee in 2021 from January 12 to March 5. His buyout from UT was $860,000 (Steele never coached in a game or at practice for the Vols during that time, but he did help Heupel recruit before leaving).
Kevin Steele makes it clear how he feels about Josh Heupel
Steele, who retired from coaching in 2024, joined former Vols assistant Doug Matthews on Big Orange Sunday this past weekend and shared some thoughts on Heupel.
The former Tennessee linebacker/assistant coach specifically noted that he thinks Heupel will “push the right buttons” when it comes to committing to true freshman Faizon Brandon as the starting quarterback while also finding a way to make sure redshirt freshman George MacIntyre is ready if called upon.
“I don’t hide it,” said Steele. “I am a big fan of Josh Heupel. I think he’s a good football coach, and he is a good play caller. I think he has the right demeanor to coach a quarterback. He pushes them, but yet he gives them confidence.
“So I don’t really see that (managing Brandon and MacIntyre) as a big concern. If he’s got the guy that has the ability to do what he wants to do, I think he’ll push the right buttons.”
Steele is a well thought of coach in college football — he spent quite a few years working under Nick Saban (including as Saban’s defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2023). He knows what a good football coach looks like.
That’s why hearing Steele make those comments is quite an endorsement for Heupel.
