Report: Vols OC Taking Job With Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Replacement Options?

According to a report to from Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans, Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian is leaving the team to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterbacks coach.

The news comes shortly after Bajakian was named as a possible candidate at Central Michigan.

It’s definitely a shock for Vol fans to learn that Bajakian is leaving.

Bajakian had been with Butch Jones since the 2007 season when Jones took over as the head coach at Central Michigan. He followed Jones to Cincinnati and then to Tennessee.

Prior to Bajakian’s time at Central Michigan, he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Chicago Bears, his only NFL experience.

There is definitely more going on here than meets the eye. It’s highly unusual for an offensive coordinator at a SEC school to take a position coach job, even in the NFL.

Not to mention the timing, less than two weeks before national signing day, is less than ideal.

Immediate options to replace Bajakian have to include current UT wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni and former UCONN interim head coach TJ Weist (Served as WR coach for Jones at Cincinnati).

Update (2:29 PM ET): 

According to Sports Illustrated’s updated report, Bajakian verbally accepted Lovie Smith’s offer to be Tampa Bay’s quarterbacks coach, but he is also still interested in the opening at Central Michigan.