Last week, Tennessee football added assistant coach Mike Ekeler as the final on-field member of Josh Heupel’s staff. Ekeler heads to Rocky Top from the North Texas Mean Green and will serve as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.
It’s pretty obvious that Ekeler is excited to be at UT as well. He has been all over social media talking about how happy he is to be in Knoxville, Tenn. and getting ready to coach at Neyland Stadium in the Fall.
Ekeler started by showing a bit of love for himself. He retweeted Tennessee Titans linebacker Will Compton and Washington Football Team linebacker Cole Holcomb referring to him as a stud. In between he also tweeted out former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker sending him a shoutout. Hey, Tennessee football could use a bit of confidence right now.
.@Vol_Football is getting a stud ST Coach in @CoachEkelerUNT
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) March 2, 2021
Ekeler went full send during my recruitment to Nebraska - putting a tattoo on his body of my name
Absolutely loved him as my LB coach at Nebraska. Congrats to Tennessee 🍻
LETS GOOOO @CoachEkelerUNT !!!! Proud of you coach!! SEC special teams better be on alert ... Red Bull’s gonna be flowing in the streets. @Vol_Football is in good hands pic.twitter.com/ExQfuFmK2u
— Jake Ganus (@jakeganus) March 2, 2021
Congrats to @Vol_Football on getting AN ABSOLUTE STUD for a coach! @CoachEkelerUNT was my position coach at UNC and brought the juice every day!!!!! pic.twitter.com/41z5YiTF39
— cole holcomb (@ColeHolcomb_) March 2, 2021
Then there was the standard tweet all coaches put out there when they show their excitement over being somewhere. However, it’s worth noting here.
Sooooo fired🔥🔥🔥 up to be on Rocky Top @Vol_Football. Love the energy from our players, fans and recruits. Let’s GOOO🍊 pic.twitter.com/g88MOH1uef
— Mike Ekeler (@CoachEkelerUT) March 6, 2021
When it comes to living situations, though, Ekeler has a few ideas. He appears to suggest staying in Neyland Stadium and also got a retweet from athletic director Danny White in reference to his idea to convert a sweet into a condo.
Looking at some houses today. Drove by the stadium & think I might ask @AD_DannyWhite if we can convert a suite into a condo. Lots of advantages: tons of restrooms, concession stands, close to work, dinner parties with 100,000 of our closest friends. @Vol_Football Let’s GOOO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/Owe3GFVajk
— Mike Ekeler (@CoachEkelerUT) March 6, 2021
Keep those restrooms cleaned & paper stocked and you got yourself a deal Mike! 😂 Good luck house hunting! https://t.co/dvCGIFTVFg
— Danny White (@AD_DannyWhite) March 6, 2021
After that, Ekeler tweeted picture on a boat referencing his first time coaching at Neyland Stadium, back in 2005. He actually was off on that, as he was a defensive assistant with the LSU Tigers, and they hosted the Vols in 2005. His first year at Neyland Stadium would have been 2006.
2005 was the 1st time I coached in Neyland Stadium. It’s the best atmosphere In the country. Since that night- my “dream job” has been to coach @Vol_Football, live on the river and drive my boat to work. Anyone looking to sell a house on the river- hit me up🍊 pic.twitter.com/wAyilk0rtn
— Mike Ekeler (@CoachEkelerUT) March 6, 2021
Family came onto the scene as well. Ekeler tweeted a picture of his daughter, Abby Ekeler, and the family dog. Everybody loves seeing dogs in pictures.
Fired up to get our crew to Rocky Top. @AbbyEkeler sporting her new @Vol_Football gear🔥🔥. My man Abe 🐕 can’t wait to hang out with Smokey 🐕. Let’s GOOO🍊🍊 pic.twitter.com/MW4yHKQbbC
— Mike Ekeler (@CoachEkelerUT) March 7, 2021
Obviously, this hire of Ekeler brings more energy to Tennessee football. He adds championship experience given his time at LSU and also is familiar with Josh Heupel given the fact that the two were graduate assistants with the Oklahoma Sooners in the early 2000s.