Following the departure of Michael Hunter Jr. to the NFL after just over a month with Tennessee football, Josh Heupel and newly hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles were tasked with finding a quick replacement. On Sunday morning, the move was made.
According to a report from CBS’ Matt Zenitz, the Vols are expected to hire former Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Derek Jones. He spent the past four seasons with the Hokies and was of interest to multiple Power Four programs this coaching carousel.
Jones also brings prowess to the recruiting trail. On top of his duties as the cornerbacks coach at Virginia Tech, he was also the defensive recruiting coordinator.
He was placed on the market of available defensive back coaches this offseason after the Hokies moved on from Brent Pry as head coach and hired James Franklin as his replacement.
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Prior to his past four seasons at Virginia Tech, Jones served as the associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Texas Tech from 2020-21. Before that, he was at Duke.
It was during this time with the Blue Devils that he coached under now-UT defensive coordinator Knowles. From 2010-17, Knowles was the defensive coordinator at Duke. During that entire span, Jones was on staff. He began working for the program in 2008 as the defensive backs coach and assistant special teams coordinator before moving to more directly, the cornerbacks coach and assistant special teams coordinator.
After Knowles left, Jones was the associate head coach and defensive backs coach for two seasons with the Blue Devils before heading to Texas Tech.
Prior to his time at Duke, Jones coached in some capacity at Memphis, Tulsa, Middle Tennessee State and Murray State. He played his college football at Ole Miss before joining the Rebels’ staff as a graduate assistant.
Jones is from Woodruff, South Carolina, and is entering his 27th year of coaching.
