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Tennessee football’s last five seasons returning both coordinators

By Caleb Calhoun

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks runs a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1066
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks runs a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1066 /
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Sep 6, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

. 2014. . Volunteers . 4. team. 839

7-6 (3-5); W TaxSlayer Bowl

  • Head coach: Butch Jones (2nd year)
  • Offensive coordinator: Mike Bajakian (2nd year)
  • Defensive coordinator: John Jancek (2nd year)

It was supposed to be a new era for Tennessee football. In 2013, the Vols introduced the spread offense for the first time in school history with Butch Jones and Mike Bajakian, an off-shot of what Rich Rodriguez and Brian Kelly ran with a bit more focus on blocking out of the pro-style. Defense went back to the 4-3 after the failed Sal Sunseri experiment that got Derek Dooley fired in 2012.

Although the Vols went 5-7 Jones’ first year after an injury to Justin Worley, excitement behind the program was legit, and he entered this year with a top five recruiting class and returning both coordinators. However, Bajakian was dealing with an offensive line that lost every starter.

That created an issue early on as UT fell to 3-5. Then Joshua Dobbs came in late to help the Vols rebound for a 7-6 finish and a 45-17 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the TaxSlayer Bowl. That ushered in an era of two solid years amidst a decade-plus of futility with Dobbs at the helm.

However, Bajakian wasn’t there to see it. He left for the pros after 2014, and Jones brought in Mike DeBord to run the offense. Jancek didn’t last either, as Jones pushed him out after the 2015 season to make room for Bob Shoop. Perhaps these moves are what did him in, as lack of stability and clashing of staff members wrecked the program in late 2016 and through 2017.

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