Tennessee dishes raises to five assistant coaches, sets staff salaries for 2023 season (Tennessee Football Coaching Staff)

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. 

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