3. How are players adjusting to the new coaching staff?
Butch Jones made a significant overhaul to the coaching staff this offseason. The only coaches on staff for the upcoming 2017 season who were a part of Jones’ 2016 staff are Bob Shoop, Larry Scott, Robert Gillespie, and Tommy Thigpen. Every other coach on the staff is a new face or someone promoted from a support role last year. Even Scott isn’t in the same position he was in 2016, as he was promoted from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator.
Walt Wells was promoted from a quality control coach to the offensive line coach, and Mike Canales, Kevin Beard, Brady Hoke, and Charlton Warren were all hired from the outside. Jones even made a change with the strength and conditioning program, hiring Rock Gullickson to take over that role.
Tennessee’s current staff is radically different than last year’s. So how are the players taking to the new coaches? The Vols’ three representatives at media days will likely be asked ad nauseam about their new position coaches and the rest of the new staff.
