Quick Thoughts On Who Could Be Vols’ Next OC

With the news of Mike Bajakian’s departure breaking on Thursday, the focus of Butch Jones will immediately shift to filling the Vols’ now vacant offensive coordinator position.

Here are some names that could take Bajakian’s place.

Zach Azzanni

Current psition: Tennessee’s wide receivers coach

Azzanni is the first name that will ultimately be thrown around. He first started working with Jones in 2007 as Central Michigan’s wide receiver’s coach, before taking the same position at Florida in 2010. Azzanni then spent the 2011 season as Western Kentucky’s offensive coordinator.

The 2012 season saw Azzanni take a job as Wisconsin’s wide receiver’s coach, before rejoining Jones at Tennessee in 2012.

Pros: Knows the system and works well with the staff.

Cons: Not a lot of experience as an offensive coordinator.

TJ Weist

Current position: None

Weist is an interesting candidate. He was Jones’ wide receivers coach at Cincinnati and a lot of folks thought the former Alabama wide receiver would join Jones at Tennessee, but he instead went to UCONN to take be their offensive coordinator.

UCONN’s coach was fired that season and Weist was named as interim head coach. He went 3-5 in the final eight games of the season.

Weist also served as Western Kentucky’s offensive coordinator from 2000-2006.

Pros: Has a decent amount of experience as an offensive coordinator. As a former Alabama player, he’s familiar with the SEC (Tennessee’s last OC to be a former Alabama player worked out pretty well).

Cons: Was the offensive coordinator for a coach that was fired. Didn’t take a job for the 2014 season.

Rod Smith

Current position: Arizona co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach

Smith has been Arizona’s co-offensive coordinator since 2012. Here’s a quick note, via Arizona’s official website, on his success at Arizona.

"At UA, Smith inherited a fifth-year senior in quarterback Matt Scott who was perfectly suited to run the Wildcat offense. With Scott as signal caller, Arizona was 7-5 as he orchestrated come-from-behind wins against No. 10 USC and Nevada in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors, Scott led the conference in yards per game with 301.7 and ranked No. 2 in the league in total yardage.UA lead the Pac-12 in total offense for four-straight weeks (weeks 6-9) and ranked as high as fourth nationally in weeks three, seven and nine. Arizona’s offensive triple-threat attack featured a 3,000-yard passer (Scott – 3,620 yards), a 1,500-yard rusher (Ka’Deem Carey – 1,929 yards) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Austin Hill – 1,364 yards)."

Smith has never worked with Jones, but has worked extensively with Rich Rodriguez, whom Jones cites as a coaching influence.

Pros: Successful offensive coordinator at the major conference level

Cons: Lack of familiarity with the SEC and current coaching staff

Calvin Magee:

Current position: Arizona co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach

Magee is the other offensive coordinator at Arizona. He’s been with Rich Rodriguez, most as an offensive coordinator, since 2001. He’s went with him from West Virginia to Michigan to Arizona.

His loyalty to Rodriguez, however, makes him a long shot to leave for Tennessee.

Pros: Longtime offensive coordinator with proven track record. Coached with Jones during the 2005-06 seasons at West Virginia

Cons: Will be hard to get him to leave Arizona. Other than that, could be a home run hire.

Matt LaFleur

Current position: Notre Dame quarterbacks coach

LaFleur is a young up and coming coach. He’s a Michigan native that was a college quarterback at Western Michigan and Saginaw Valley State. He spent one season on a coaching staff with Butch Jones (he was an offensive assistant on 2004 Central Michigan team). He’s also spent time as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans and was the Washington Redskins’ quarterbacks coach, under Mike Shanahan, from 2010-2013. LaFleur was hired as Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach before the 2014 season.

Pros: Is a young up-and-comer that’s had success at the NFL level. Is a known commodity to Butch Jones.

Cons: Very little offensive coordinator experience (one season at Ashland). Doesn’t have a lot of recruiting experience in the south.