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Tennessee football’s five coaches before Josh Heupel hired for offense

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel takes the field at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel takes the field at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game /
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University of Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey at Neyland Stadium.Doug Dickey 8 31 90 1
University of Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey at Neyland Stadium.Doug Dickey 8 31 90 1 /

player. Pick Analysis. 1964-1969. Record: 46-15-4 (21-10-4). Doug Dickey. 1. Scouting Report. 839

Previous role: Arkansas Razorbacks assistant

Before Bill Battle was hired, Tennessee football had undergone a renaissance era under the leadership of Doug Dickey. Given what had happened to the program, offense was the only thing on anybody’s mind when the Vols hired him back in 1964.

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Dickey was the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators in the early 1950s, moving there from defensive back, and as an effective game manager, he learned how to be cutting-edge offensively. Dickey joined Jack Mitchell’s staff with the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1957, and he stayed on when Frank Broyles was hired to replace Mitchell in 1958.

Broyles was famous for being cutting-edge offensively, particularly his use of quarterbacks, and he built that reputation early. Behind him doing that was Dickey, who was with him from 1958 to 1963 and had a hand in developing the quarterbacks. During those six years, the Hogs won three straight Southwest Championships at one point.

Meanwhile, Rocky Top was stale. The success of the single-wing that was installed by Robert Neyland in 1926 and created dynasties in the 1930s and 1950s had faded. It was outdated, with the program falling apart under Bowden Wyatt and Jim McDonald. To breathe new life into the program the Vols hired Dickey, as he would bring in the T-Formation.

Installing the T worked, and after a losing season in 1964, the Vols posted 10 straight top 25 finishes from Dickey to Battle, winning two SEC Championships and a retroactive national championship in 1967. It was one of the great runs in school history.

Next. Vols' top 10 upset wins in school history. dark

Dickey left for the Florida Gators after the 1969 season, but Tennessee football has now hired another coach with a Florida connection for his offensive mind. If Josh Haupel can match what Dickey did, there’s no doubt he will be considered a success.

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