Alex Golesh could take current Vols assistant with him to USF

The Tennessee Vols need a new offensive coordinator after Alex Golesh agreed to become the new head coach at South Florida. Tennessee might also need a new linebackers coach, thanks to Golesh taking the USF job. Rumors are swirling that current Vols linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary could be a candidate to serve as Golesh's defensive […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols need a new offensive coordinator after Alex Golesh agreed to become the new head coach at South Florida.

Tennessee might also need a new linebackers coach, thanks to Golesh taking the USF job.

Rumors are swirling that current Vols linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary could be a candidate to serve as Golesh's defensive coordinator at USF.

Tennessee Linebackers Coach Brian Jean-Mary before the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021. Utvsal1120
Tennessee Linebackers Coach Brian Jean-Mary before the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120

Jean-Mary makes a lot of sense for Golesh for two reasons:

  1. They've coached together at Tennessee for the last two seasons.
  2. Jean-Mary served as USF's defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2017 to 2019.

The familiarity that Jean-Mary has with USF could be extremely attractive to Golesh. And I'm sure Jean-Mary's goal is to return to being a defensive coordinator and maybe even a head coach eventually. While I'm sure it would be tough to leave Tennessee, it would also be tough to turn down a promotion.

(Jean-Mary wasn't retained by Jeff Scott when he took over as the USF head coach after the 2019 season.)

Another option for Golesh from the UT coaching staff could be secondary coach Willie Martinez.

Martinez, a Florida native, and Golesh have worked together for the past three seasons (one year at UCF and the last two years at Tennessee). With Martinez having strong ties to the state of Florida, plus past defensive coordinator experience at Georgia, he could also be an option for Golesh at USF.

I wouldn't expect too many assistants to follow Golesh to USF — it would be a step down for most unless they left for a coordinator role — but Jean-Mary and Martinez are two coaches to keep an eye on in the coming days/weeks.

Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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