Josh Heupel has set Tennessee's coaching staff with a pair of promotions, as well as extensions to a pair of expiring contracts.
Following special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler's departure to Nebraska, Heupel is promoting Levorn "Chop" Harbin to outside linebackers coach, special teams analyst Evan Crabtree to special teams coordinator, as well as hiring former Central Michigan head coach John Bonamego was hired as assistant special teams coordinator.
The moves fall in line with Heupel's m.o. of promoting from within. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle started as an analyst under Heupel at UCF and came to Knoxville as quarterbacks coach. Tight ends coach Alec Abeln and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope also started as analysts.
Tennessee has also extended defensive backs coach Willie Martinez and head strength coach Kurt Schmidt -- creatively titled "director of competition development" -- after their respective deals expired on Jan. 31, according to documents obtained by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Martinez netted a 2-year extension through the 2026 season, and Schmidt got a 1-year extension through 2025. Neither assistant received a raise; Martinez will make $540,000 again in 2025, while Schmidt will earn $475,000.
Per figures provided by Knox News, defensive coordinator Tim Banks was the only returning assistant to net a raise from 2024 to 2025. He's now set to make $2.15 million through 2027 after making $1.5 million in 2024.
Tennessee is 37-15 under Heupel, including a 30-9 mark over the last three seasons. After breaking through with an 11-2 record, an Orange Bowl win and a No. 6 final ranking in 2022, Tennessee went 10-3 and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2024. The Vols have also won two of their last three over Alabama after losing 15 straight from 2007-21.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.