Josh Heupel reveals the personal rule he lives by as the head coach at Tennessee
One of the big reasons why the Tennessee Vols are having success on the recruiting trail under Josh Heupel is because of the culture that's been built in Knoxville. The winning on the field is obviously important and has contributed to the Vols' recruiting success, but the tremendous culture at Tennessee is what makes UT's […]
One of the big reasons why the Tennessee Vols are having success on the recruiting trail under Josh Heupel is because of the culture that's been built in Knoxville.
The winning on the field is obviously important and has contributed to the Vols' recruiting success, but the tremendous culture at Tennessee is what makes UT's recruiting success sustainable.
Heupel has helped create that culture thanks to a personal rule he lives by as the head coach at Tennessee.
The third year Vols coach was asked by Outkick 360 at SEC Media Days how he's been able to cultivate a great culture without being the "disciple" of a prominent head coach.
Heupel was quick to tell Outkick 360 that it's all about being genuine and not trying to be someone he's not.
"I think it's really important that you're yourself," explained Heupel. "If not, your players are going to see right through that. If you want to build trust, you better be exactly who you say you are going to be. And you better be true to what you want to be. And, you know, for us, I think it comes through dialogue. It comes through consistency. From the moment I got there, never set a ceiling on what we could or couldn't accomplish. Have been about relationships, have been about growing men, and growing the player at the same time."
"They've seen the fruits of their labor," added Heupel. "We spend a ton of time on developing leadership, the ability to communicate with your peers. I talked to them consistently that championship and special seasons happen because there's championship-caliber leadership and accountability."
Heupel also pointed out that building the culture is just the first step. Tennessee also has to recruit to that culture. In other words, there will be some elite recruits that the Vols don't pursue because they don't fit the culture that's been built under Heupel.
"You put all of that together and you start building the culture and then you got to recruit to it, too," said Heupel. "And I think our staff's done a great job of that. And that's how you build something where there's true connectivity and love for each other inside the building."
The Vols' culture is one of their biggest selling points in recruiting. And Heupel's been able to create that culture by just being himself — by being real and not playing a character like so many SEC coaches try to do.
"Real" always sells on the recruiting trail and the Vols are fortunate that Heupel understands that as well as any coach in the nation.
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