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Tennessee football: Breaking down Vols’ new offensive coaching staff

By Dean Zulkofske

Jan 30, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel speaks during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kansas Jayhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel speaks during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kansas Jayhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 2, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles head coach Jerry Mack on the sidelines of their game against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles head coach Jerry Mack on the sidelines of their game against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /

839. . Running backs. Volunteers . Jerry Mack. 2. player

Replacing Jay Graham as Tennessee football’s running backs coach is former Arkansas State wide receiver Jerry Mack. A player for the Red Wolves from 2001 to 2003, Mack has held various coaching positions at multiple Division I programs over his tenure.

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In his most recent stint, he was the Rice Owls’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2018 to 2020. The past two seasons, he was an assistant head coach as well. Before that, he was the North Carolina Central Eagles head coach for four years and won three MEAC Championships. Other FBS stops include the South Alabama Jaguars and Memphis Tigers.

Interestingly enough, Mack’s new job with UT is not only his first power five coaching gig, but his first as a running backs coach as well. He was a wide receiver in college and has coached every offensive position except this one.

Mack makes the least sense of the new coaching additions, but make no mistake, he’s still a coach Vol fans should want on their sideline. Losing 2020 rushing leaders Ty Chandler and Eric Gray will hurt UT next season, and Mack must find a way to pull production from Jabari Small, Dee Beckwith and Tiyon Evans.

Related Story. Five reasons Josh Heupel hire could work out for Vols. light

What Mack lacks in direct running back coaching experience he makes up for in overarching leadership abilities shown by his head coaching resume at Rice and UNC Central. Throw in Mack’s homegrown roots as a guy from Memphis, and it’s clear why Heupel wanted him to join his coaching staff.

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