Josh Heupel adds familiar face to coaching staff that sets Vols up for future success
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel is adding a familiar face to his coaching staff. And it's a move that shouldn't go unnoticed. UT announced on Thursday that former UCF/Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton is joining Heupel's staff as an offensive analyst. Milton played under Heupel at UCF from 2018 to 2020. Tennessee lost offensive […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel is adding a familiar face to his coaching staff. And it's a move that shouldn't go unnoticed.
UT announced on Thursday that former UCF/Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton is joining Heupel's staff as an offensive analyst.
Milton played under Heupel at UCF from 2018 to 2020.
Tennessee lost offensive coordinator Alex Golesh to USF earlier this offseason (Golesh took the head coaching job at USF). Heupel replaced Golesh by promoting quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle, who has been with Heupel since his playing days at Oklahoma in the 2000s, to offensive coordinator.
If the Vols continue their wild offensive success, it won't be long before Halzle receives head coaching offers.
Fortunately for Tennessee, Heupel already has his next batch of key offensive assistants in place.
Offensive analyst Mitch Militello, for example, played an important role in Hendon Hooker's development at Tennessee. Militello is a prime candidate to serve in an on-field role when the Vols have another opening.
Milton could also be poised for a future on-field role with the Vols. He obviously knows Heupel's system well and he's already a big fan of Tennessee and Knoxville.
"Tennessee is a special, special place, and I got to see that in March when I came up here to check out spring practice and Pro Day," said Milton to ESPN this week. "What makes a place truly special is the people. I've known half the staff in some way, shape or form from prior places I've been, so it just felt right."
From ESPN: A trip to Tennessee in March to watch spring practice got Milton thinking once again about his ultimate career goal: getting into coaching. Heupel reached out last month to gauge his interest in joining the staff as an analyst. Milton called the decision to come to Tennessee a "no brainer." In addition to the ties to Heupel, Tennessee athletic director Danny White was at UCF when Milton was there as well.
Heupel has quickly proved that not only can he develop quarterbacks, but he can develop coaches, too. It's become apparent that as long as Heupel's in Knoxville, the Vols are always going to have a top-notch staff. And that's thanks in large part to Heupel always staying a step ahead with his hires. He's essentially hiring replacements for coaches before they're needed so there's no loss of continuity.
I know it's still early in Heupel's coaching career, but it truly feels like he has the traits to be one of those special coaches that eventually lifts a national championship trophy over his head in celebration.
