Former Tennessee Vols assistant joins Butch Jones' staff at Arkansas State
A former Tennessee Vols assistant coach is joining Butch Jones’ staff at Arkansas State according to a report.
A former Tennessee Vols assistant coach is reportedly joining former UT head coach Butch Jones' staff at Arkansas State.
The former Vols head coach is bringing an assistant coach from Tennessee's 2012 staff to Arkansas State.
Jones, who was the head coach at Tennessee from 2013 to 2017, took over as the Red Wolves' head coach in late 2020.
Football Scoop's John Brice reported on Monday that former Wofford head coach Josh Conklin is joining Jones' staff to work as a defensive assistant and also with special teams.
Conklin was a safeties coach on Derek Dooley's staff at Tennessee in 2012. He was also the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh from 2015 to 2017.
Interestingly, Conklin almost ended up back at Tennessee in early 2021.
Conklin was in the mix to become the Vols' defensive coordinator under Josh Heupel in early 2021 before the job ultimately went to Tim Banks. According to sources, Conklin met with Tennessee about the job and at one point, it looked like Heupel was leaning in his direction. For whatever reason, Banks received the offer over Conklin.
If Tennessee has a defensive staff opening in the future — specifically with the secondary — Conklin will be a name to watch.