Tennessee Assistants Had Offers From Other Schools
By Zach Ragan
The Tennessee Volunteers lost offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month, but there could’ve been more losses from the Vol coaching staff.
WMNL’s Jimmy Hyams reported on Tuesday that defensive assistants Tommy Thigpen and Willie Martinez, along with wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, had offers from other schools.
UT had 3 aides that stayed despite offers: LB Tommy Thigpen (A&M, UNC), WR Zac Azzani (unnamed SEC school), DB Willie Martinez (unknown)
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) February 10, 2015
Thigpen played college football at North Carolina and coached linebackers there from 2005-08.
It wouldn’t have been a shock to see Thigpen go back to UNC. The Tar Heels recently hired Gene Chizik as their new defensive coordinator. Thigpen coached under Chizik at Auburn and came to Tennessee after Gus Malzahn took over as the Tigers’ head coach.
It’s unclear who offered Martinez a job, but the Vols’ defensive backs coach certainly has the credentials to be in high demand. He’s a former defensive coordinator and has turned Tennessee’s young cornerbacks into some of the best in the conference.
Fans, however, were probably most worried about losing Azzanni, who was recently promoted to passing game coordinator.
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Azzanni was rumored to be connected to the Central Michigan head coaching job, but he told WMNL shortly after signing day that he hadn’t spoken with CMU about their opening.
Hyams reported that an unnamed SEC school made an offer to Azzanni. There were quite a few openings to which Azzanni could’ve been linked.
Florida, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt all had wide receivers coach openings. Various other SEC schools, including Arkansas and Kentucky, had offensive coordinator openings for which Azzanni could’ve possibly been considered.
Considering the possible scenarios, Butch Jones did a good job of keeping his staff together. Obviously it was a blow to lose Bajakian, but it could’ve been much worse.
The UT coaching staff knows that something special is happening on Rocky Top and they obviously want to part of it.