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Tennessee football: Top five coaches to consider if Vols fire Jeremy Pruitt

By Dean Zulkofske

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Hugh Freeze of the Liberty Flames celebrates with his team after defeating the Georgia Southern Eagles in the 2019 Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Hugh Freeze of the Liberty Flames celebrates with his team after defeating the Georgia Southern Eagles in the 2019 Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Cajuns head coach Billy Napier on sideline as Louisiana Ragin Cajuns take on the Miami University Redhawks in the Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile, AL. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.Cajuns Miami Lending Tree Bowlv4 3582
Cajuns head coach Billy Napier on sideline as Louisiana Ragin Cajuns take on the Miami University Redhawks in the Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile, AL. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.Cajuns Miami Lending Tree Bowlv4 3582 /

4. Billy Napier

Another Tennessean sneaks his way on to this list of coaches to consider. Born in Cookeville, Tenn., Billy Napier’s coaching experience under Dabo Swinney with Clemson Tigers and Nick Saban with the Alabama Crimson Tide make him not just a name to watch for the potential Tennessee opening but for any Power Five head coaching vacancy.

The Louisiana Lafayette head coach was rumored to be connected to the Auburn Tigers’ vacancy opened by the firing of Gus Malzahn. He was also a top contender to take over the South Carolina Gamecocks’ football program following the dismissal of Will Muschamp.

In the three seasons under Napier as head coach, the Ragin’ Cajuns clinched the Sun Belt West all three years, winning the Sun Belt Championship and ascending to the No. 23 spot in 2020. Napier, who possesses a 28-11 record as a head coach, also has two bowl wins under his belt and a Sun Belt Coach of the Year award from Louisiana’s 11-3 2019 season.

In college, Napier played quarterback for the Furman Paladins before accepting a Graduate Assistant role with Clemson from 2003-2004. Before taking the Louisiana job in 2018, Napier held offensive assistant positions at five other Division I programs. Again, if the Vols don’t scoop him up, somebody else will.

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