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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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Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, left, talks with head coach Derek Dooley during the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium Saturday, April 16, 2011. White won the game 24-7 over Orange.041711vols Atb 20
Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, left, talks with head coach Derek Dooley during the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium Saturday, April 16, 2011. White won the game 24-7 over Orange.041711vols Atb 20 /

839. . 2011. . Volunteers . 3. team

5-7 (1-7)

  • Head coach: Derek Dooley (2nd year)
  • Offensive coordinator: Jim Chaney (2nd year)
  • Defensive coordinator: Justin Wilcox (2nd year)

To be fair, Jim Chaney was in his third year with the program, but he wasn’t calling plays under Lane Kiffin. Derek Dooley did a good job keeping him around and luring Justin Wilcox from the Boise State Broncos, and Tennessee football seemed to have a staff in place for the future. The issue was talent.

Thanks to attrition from Kiffin’s one year, a bust of a 2007 recruiting class and a bad 2008 recruiting class, Dooley was left with a mess. Meanwhile, the Vols, coming off a 6-7 campaign, were in the midst of an NCAA investigation to hamper Dooley’s classes, and they were about to play the toughest schedule in history given the layout of the SEC that year.

After a 2-0 start, they then lost Justin Hunter, their go-to receiver, for the year at the Florida Gators. Then they lost quarterback Tyler Bray against the Georgia Bulldogs at 3-1, and a four-game losing streak ensued. They lost five of six during that time.

Bray was back for their home overtime win against the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, the beatings throughout the season took a toll, and the Kentucky Wildcats shocked Tennessee football to end the season 10-7, costing them a bowl and ending a 26-year winning streak by the Vols over UK.

That led to Dave Hart publicly undercutting the staff, leading to numerous staff members taking other jobs. Most notable among them was Wilcox, and as a result, Dooley was forced to hire Sal Sunseri, which did him in for 2012.

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