This time on the defensive end, another member of Tennessee’s football coaching staff is in transition.
The most recent departure is Brian Jean-Mary, the linebackers coach, who will take over as defensive run game coordinator at Michigan, the reigning national champion, on Thursday.
Head coach Josh Heupel now has two gaps to fill after running backs coach Jerry Mack left the Vols for the NFL and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ staff as their new running backs coach.
Prior to joining Tennessee in 2021, Jean-Mary spent one season in 2020 as the linebackers coach at Michigan under former head coach Jim Harbaugh. After Harbaugh left for the NFL, he comes back to Ann Arbour to work with head coach Sherrone Moore in his first season.
Native of Apopka, Florida, Jean-Mary began her 23-year coaching career at Louisville, South Carolina, North Alabama, Texas, and USF after playing linebacker at Appalachian State in the early 1990s.Jean-Mary led the Tennessee Titans’ renovation of the
Under Jean-Mary, Tennessee recruited Arion Carter and Elijah Herring, two highly regarded in-state recruits who both assumed larger roles due to injuries sustained during the previous season, in two of the last three recruiting cycles.
The Vols have a strong starting lineup at wide out even though Beasley has used up all of his eligibility. Jeremiah Telander, Herring, and Carter will all be back for Tennessee.
After missing a large portion of the season due to injury, veteran linebacker Keenan Pili—who started his career at BYU before moving to Tennessee in 2023—was allowed a sixth season of eligibility.
Less than two months before the Vols begin spring practices, Heupel already has two available coaching positions, but he has a history of selecting from within.
Following the departure of wide receivers coach Kodi Burns to the NFL in 2022, Joey Halzle was promoted to offensive coordinator and continued to coach quarterbacks after Alex Golesh was hired as USF’s head coach following the 2022 season. Meanwhile, Kelsey Pope was promoted from analyst to position coach in 2022.
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