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Tennessee football hires Josh Heupel: Five reasons this could work

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 19, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights head coach Josh Heupel watches the scoreboard during the second half against the East Carolina Pirates at Spectrum Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights head coach Josh Heupel watches the scoreboard during the second half against the East Carolina Pirates at Spectrum Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Josh Heupel of the UCF Knights gets interviewed after defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd 48-25 at the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Josh Heupel of the UCF Knights gets interviewed after defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd 48-25 at the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

It’s official. Tennessee football has found its new head coach. Eight days after firing Jeremy Pruitt and athletic director Phillip Fulmer announcing his retirement, six days after announcing Danny White as Fulmer’s replacement and five days after introducing him, the Vols have now found Pruitt’s replacement.

White is bringing Josh Heupel with him from the UCF Knights. Heupel was announced as head coach Wednesday morning. Once a national championship quarterback with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2000, Heupel has spent three years at UCF, including a 12-0 regular season in 2018, the second straight for the program after Scott Frost, Heupel’s predecessor, went 13-0 in 2017.

Before UCF, Heupel was the Missouri Tigers’ offensive coordinator for two years under Barry Odom. Anyway, Tennessee football fans have some concerns about Heupel. He inherited the UCF program, and it got worse each year under him. However, this still may be a good hire. Here are five reasons it could work out for the Vols.

5. Track record of winning

Yes, UCF went from 12-1 to 10-3 to 6-4 under Heupel the last three years. Given the fact that they were 13-0 the year before him, there is valid reason for concern. However, this year was an anomaly in so many ways due to COVID, so you somewhat have to throw the whole season out the window and just look at the previous two.

If you look at those two, 12-1 and 10-3 are pretty good. UCF was expected to have a drop-off in 2019, as they lost a ton of talent, most notably quarterback McKenzie Milton due to injury. Milton eventually transferred to the Florida State Seminoles.

Anyway, Heupel has an American Athletic Conference Championship, two top 25 finishes in three years and a 28-8 overall record. Say what you want, but Tennessee football could do a lot worse. Sure, Heupel could be another Butch Jones. But he could also be an elite coach. Not every hire works out the same way.

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