Tennessee is continuing to dole out the spoils of last year's successful season.
According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tennessee has awarded contract extensions to five of Josh Heupel's assistants.
Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee netted a $100,000 raise (to $900,000) on a deal that runs through the 2025 season.
That raise means Elarbee will be Heupel's highest-paid offensive assistant. Joey Halzle more than doubled his salary upon his promotion to offensive coordinator, but will earn $50,000 less than Elarbee in 2023. Three of Tennessee's offensive assistants were promoted from within -- Halzle from QBs to offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope was promoted before the 2022 season, and tight ends coach Alec Albin was promoted from the off-field staff this winter.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, running backs coach Jerry Mack, and outside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler earned 1-year extensions through 2024. Every remaining assistant save for defensive backs coach Willie Martinez already had a contract that ran through 2024.
The 2022 campaign ended a lot of streaks of futility in Knoxville:
-- The 11 wins were Tennessee's most since 2001
-- The Orange Bowl victory marked Tennessee's first New Year's Six win since the 2004 season
-- The AP No. 6 finish was Tennessee's highest since 2001
-- The CFP No. 1 ranking was the first in program history
-- The win over Alabama was Tennessee's first since Nick Saban's 2007 arrival
Those accomplishments will translate into higher expectations for Tennessee's players and coaches and a heftier price tag for the athletics department.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.