The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Football

updated February 2026 Former national champion quarterback Josh Heupel took the reins of Tennessee football in 2021 and has guided the proud program to a nat...

THE ABELN FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Birthdate: March 23, 1995 Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri Education: Missouri, 2018 (bachelor’s in finance and English) Playing Experience: Missouri – OL, TE, FB (2013-17) COACHING HISTORY 2018: Missouri, Graduate Assistant 2019: UCF, Graduate Assistant 2020: Ole Miss, Offensive Assistant 2021-23: Tennessee, Offensive Analyst 2023-present: Tennessee, Tight Ends POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (8) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee 2024 Citrus Bowl – Tennessee 2022 Orange Bowl – Tennessee 2021 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2021 Outback Bowl – Ole Miss 2019 Gasparilla Bowl – UCF 2018 Liberty Bowl – Missouri updated summer 2025 Alec Abeln, who has worked closely with Josh Heupel at three different programs, enters his third season as tight ends coach in 2025. Abeln (pronounced ABE-lin), a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has overseen a tight end room that has transformed into one of the Southeastern Conference’s best. Since Abeln joined the staff in 2021, Volunteer tight ends have accounted for 29 touchdowns — 23 receiving and six rushing. Entering the 2025 season, UT tight ends have scored at least one touchdown in nine out of the last 15 contests. In three seasons prior to Heupel and Abeln, Vol tight ends combined for six scores from 2018-20. Abeln’s tight ends were a huge weapon for a Tennessee offense in 2024 that ranked 15th in the nation, averaging 447.0 yards per game. Led by Alabama transfer Miles Kitselman a

updated July 2024 Andrew Goodman enters his second season as Tennessee’s director of football operations in 2024. He joined Josh Heupel’s staff in February 2...

Andrew Jackson joins Tennessee's defensive staff as the LEOs position coach in 2026. He was officially named to Jim Knowles' staff on Jan. 2. Jackson owns 13 years of defensive line coaching experience. He spent the 2025 campaign with Knowles as the assistant defensive line coach at Penn State. He was previously the defensive line coach at West Virginia for four seasons from 2021-24 where he was instrumental in developing one of the top units in the Big 12. In 2023, Jackson’s defensive line spearheaded a group that ranked first in the Big 12 and 19th in Power Five in sacks (33). The defense produced 84 tackles for loss (6.5 per game), ranking second in the Big 12 and tied 14th among Power 5 schools. The defensive line was responsible for 16 sacks and 37 tackles for loss. From 2021-22, Jackson mentored Dante Stills, who was invited to the 2023 NFL Combine and then selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Stills finished as the school’s all-time leader in games played (59) and tackles for loss (52.5), and he was fourth in sacks (23.5). He finished his career earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors twice (2021, ’22) under Jackson. Jackson also coached the defensive line at Old Dominion (2020) and Fordham (2017). He was the defensive tackles coach at James Madison in 2019 when they led the FCS in total defense and ranked third in scoring defense. Jackson was a defensive analyst at Mississippi State in 2018 when the Bulldogs led the nation in total defense (263.1

Anthony Poindexter, a Class of 2020 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and Super Bowl champion, brings an accomplished resume to Rocky Top, including the last five seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Penn State. He was named Tennessee's co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach on Jan. 2. Poindexter coached in five College Football Playoff or New Year’s Six games during his Penn State tenure. Four of his safeties were selected in the NFL Draft, including three in the first three rounds. Poindexter spent the 2025 season with Knowles in Happy Valley, and he served as the acting defensive coordinator in the Nittany Lions’ 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Poindexter’s group limited the Tigers to 236 total yards and only 3.6 yards per play. Poindexter’s 2024 safeties unit contributed to a secondary and defense that ranked fourth in the FBS in interceptions (20), seventh in total defense (294.8), eighth in scoring defense (16.5), 10th in takeaways (26) and 13th in passes defended (72). In Poindexter’s third season, Penn State finished the 2023 campaign second in the country in total defense (247.6) and allowed just 172.1 passing yards per game, good for seventh in the nation. A 23-year coaching veteran, Poindexter also coached at Virginia (2003-13), UConn (2014-16) and Purdue (2017-20). He has spent 12 seasons as either a defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator. Poindexter’s players produced a combined nine All-Big Ten laurels

Knoxville native Billy High returned to his alma mater in 2022 and is in his fifth season on Josh Heupel's Tennessee's staff in 2025. High, who owns over a decade of experience, serves as the Vols' Executive Director of Football Management, a role he was promoted to in 2025. High oversees revenue sharing, recruiting, evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects and works with player development on the cohesiveness of all departments. In his current role, High works directly with Heupel on roster management. High had previously served as the Director of Internal and Advance Scouting during a four-year stretch that saw the Vols have their greatest on-field success in over two decades. He was the program's NFL liaison, working closely with scouts and league personnel year-round, while coordinating Tennessee's annual Pro Day that has attracted all 32 NFL teams for four straight years. High has overseen the Vols' transfer portal evaluation and process since 2022. UT has enjoyed great transfer portal success, producing NFL Draft picks in Omarr Norman-Lott and Dont'e Thornton Jr., as well as current standouts Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood and Chris Brazzell II. High previously served as the Assistant Athletic Director/General Manager for North Carolina football from January 2019 to January 2022. During High's tenure, North Carolina signed three consecutive top 15 recruiting classes, including the No. 8 class in December 2021. The Tar Heels earned an Orange Bowl berth and fini

updated summer 2025 Billy Ray Johnson enters his fifth season with Tennessee football in 2025 and serves as the program’s chief of staff. He is the program’s...

Carl Miller was named Tennessee's associate director of football sports performance in January 2026. Miller comes to Rocky Top as a national champion with Indiana where he was the Hoosiers' assistant athletic performance coach under Derek Owings. The two worked closely the last two seasons during a historic stretch that saw Indiana produce a 27-2 overall record, two College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten title and the school's first national championship in January 2026. Miller trained a Heisman Trophy winner (Fernando Mendoza), 11 All-America recipients, 23 All-Big Ten selections (first, second or third team) and four Big Ten individual award winners from 2024-25. The heralded offensive line was a finalist for the 2025 Joe Moore Award. Prior to Indiana, Miller spent four seasons at Wyoming (2020-23) and helped the Cowboys to three consecutive winning seasons, three straight bowl appearances and three victories over Colorado State in the Border War. A victory in the 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl accounted for the ninth win of the season, the program's most since 1996 (10). He trained Chad Muma, who was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after earning second-team All-America honors at linebacker in 2021. Seven total Cowboys earned first-team All-MWC in Miller's four seasons. His contributions to Wyoming came in the development of a speed program and linemen training routine that aided the Cowboys on-field performance. After one season as an intern at Mercer

THE SIMS FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Birthdate: Nov. 8, 1985 Hometown: Union, South Carolina Education: Pikeville, 2010 (bachelor's in history and political science) Playing Experience: Pikeville (2006-08) Wife: Lauren Children: Amayah, Alivia COACHING HISTORY 2010: Millersville (Pa.) University, Tight Ends 2011: University of Pikeville (Ky.), Running Backs 2012: Carson-Newman, Running Backs/Video Coordinator 2013-15: Western Carolina, Running Backs/Director of Player Development 2016-18: James Madison, Running Backs 2019-20: East Carolina, Running Backs 2021-22: Louisville, Running Backs 2023: Cincinnati, Running Backs 2024-present: Tennessee, Running Backs POSTSEASON APPEARANCES 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee 2022 Fenway Bowl – Louisville 2021 First Responder Bowl – Louisville 2018 FCS Playoffs, Second Round – James Madison 2017 FCS Playoffs, National Runner-Up – James Madison 2016 FCS Playoffs, National Champions – James Madison 2012 NCAA Division II Playoffs – Carson-Newman updated summer 2025 De’Rail Sims, who has guided FBS top 10 rushing units in back-to-back seasons, enters his second year as Tennessee’s running backs coach. He officially joined Josh Heupel’s staff on Feb. 20, 2024. Sims has coached running backs for over a decade with successful tenures at Tennessee (2024-present), Cincinnati (2023), Louisville (2021-22), East Carolina (2019-20), James Madison (2016-18) and Western Carolina (2013-15). Sims made a strong first impressi

Derek Owings, who oversaw the strength and conditioning program during Indiana's rise to the pinnacle of college football, was named Tennessee's director of football sports performance on Jan. 20, 2026. Owings spent the last six seasons working alongside head coach Curt Cignetti, including the last two at Indiana as the Hoosiers completed one of the most remarkable transformations in college football history. During his two years, IU compiled a 27-2 overall record, two College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten title and the school's first national championship. Owings, the 2025 Football Scoop Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, was on the sideline as the Hoosiers put the finishing touches on a perfect season, becoming the first FBS team to go 16-0 in the modern era. Owings' holistic development of Indiana's roster saw an unprecedented run of individual accolades in his two seasons, including a Heisman Trophy winner, 11 All-America honors, 23 All-Big Ten selections and four Big Ten individual award winners. Prior to Indiana, Owings worked closely with Cignetti as the director of strength and conditioning at James Madison from 2020-23. During his entire tenure as a head strength and conditioning coach from James Madison to Indiana, Owings teams' produced a stellar 65-9 overall record (.878) and a 40-5 record in conference play (.889). Owings reunites with head coach Josh Heupel, with whom he worked at UCF in 2018. Owings was a wide receiver and tight end as a stu

Former James Madison standout tight end Drew Painter serves as Tennessee's assistant director of football sports performance. Painter joins the Volunteers after working on the strength and conditioning staff as assistant director at Baylor for two seasons (2024-25). In 2024, the Bears reeled off six consecutive victories to end the regular season and earn a berth in the Texas Bowl. Painter helped train 11 players who earned either first, second or honorable mention All-Big 12 honors following that season. Painter was an all-around tight end for the Dukes from 2018-22, while playing for coach Curt Cignetti and being trained by Derek Owings. He helped lead JMU to a 50-12 record during that span with four appearances in the NCAA FBS Playoffs, including two semifinal berths and a 2019 national championship game appearance. For his career, Painter played in 46 games with 16 starts, catching 29 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He was named an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection as a senior in 2022, tallying 19 receptions for 221 yards and two scores. Painter was also a standout student in the classroom. He was named to the CAA Football Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll every year of his career, and he was recognized on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team and National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2022. A native of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Painter earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from James Madison in May 2

Elijah Blackman serves as Tennessee’s assistant director of football sports performance as he joined Derek Owings’ staff in January 2026. Blackman comes to R...

updated summer 2025 Evan Crabtree joined Tennessee’s staff in 2022 and enters his first year as the Volunteers’ special teams coordinator in 2025. He was officially promoted to the role by head coach Josh Heupel on Feb. 18, 2025. THE CRABTREE FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Born: Aug. 2, 1996 Hometown: Dublin, Ohio Education: Miami (Ohio), 2019 (bachelor’s in sport leadership and management); Miami (Ohio), 2020 (master’s in sport leadership); Tennessee, 2023 (master’s in ag leadership, education and communication) Playing Experience: Miami (Ohio) – LS (2016-19) COACHING HISTORY 2020-21: Miami (Ohio), Graduate Assistant 2022-23: Tennessee, Special Teams Graduate Assistant 2024: Tennessee, Special Teams Analyst 2025-present: Tennessee, Special Teams Coordinator POSTSEASON APPEARANCES (7) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee 2024 Citrus Bowl – Tennessee 2022 Orange Bowl – Tennessee 2021 Frisco Football Classic – Miami (Ohio) 2020 Lending Tree Bowl – Miami (Ohio) 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl – Miami (Ohio) Crabtree worked closely with former special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as a graduate assistant and special teams analyst from 2022-24. It was during that time frame that Tennessee proved to be one of the elite special teams units in the country in all facets. Their play helped spark the Vols to their winningest three-year stretch in two decades, a 2024 College Football Playoff berth, a 2022 Orange Bowl victory and three straight top-20 poll finishes. Tenne

updated summer 2025 Glen Elarbee has guided Tennessee’s offensive line to three straight Joe Moore Award semifinalist honors for the first time in school history to go along with multiple NFL Draft picks. With previous Southeastern Conference experience at LSU and Missouri, Elarbee enters his fifth season on Rocky Top and his ninth working alongside head coach Josh Heupel. THE ELARBEE FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Born: Feb. 27, 1980 Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia Education: Middle Tennessee, 2002 (bachelor’s in math education); Middle Tennessee, 2004 (master’s in sports education) Wife: Holly Children: Griffin COACHING HISTORY 2003-04: Middle Tennessee, Graduate Assistant 2005: Middle Tennessee, Tight Ends 2006: East Central (Miss.) Community College, Offensive Line 2007: LSU, Graduate Assistant 2008-09: Oklahoma State, Graduate Assistant 2010: West Georgia, Offensive Line 2011: West Georgia, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2012: Middle Tennessee, Offensive Line 2013: Houston, Offensive Line 2014-15: Arkansas State, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2016-17: Missouri, Offensive Line 2018: UCF, Offensive Line 2019-20: UCF, Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Offensive Line 2021-present: Tennessee, Offensive Line NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (1) 2007 – LSU (Graduate Assistant) CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (3) 2018 – UCF (Offensive Line) 2015 – Arkansas State (Offensive Line) 2007 – LSU (Graduate Assistant) POSTSEASON APPEARANCES (14) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Ro

Janae Simmonds serves as Tennessee's Director of Recruiting Operations, a role she was elevated to in 2024 after two successful years on Josh Heupel's staff. Simmonds joined the Volunteers as on-campus recruiting coordinator in February 2022 and has twice been promoted during her tenure. She was named assistant director of recruiting in September 2023. Simmonds plays a vital role in all recruiting operations, including the admissions of all incoming student-athletes. She also assists in the planning and conducting of on-campus official and unofficial visits while overseeing a staff of coordinators, student interns and volunteers in the recruiting department. Simmonds has been a part of the best two-year stretch for Tennessee football in two decades. She was part of a 2022 staff that hauled in a top-10 recruiting class following a memorable season that included 11 victories, a No. 6 final ranking and an Orange Bowl title. The Vols followed that up with a top-15 class and nine wins in 2023, capped by a shutout of Big Ten West champion Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. Simmonds has served two NFL internships, first in the summer of 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs before spending the summer of 2023 with the New York Giants. She was a scouting intern with both teams. The Lagrangeville, New York native, came to Knoxville after spending the 2021 season as a recruiting and operations intern at Maryland. She assisted in all day-to-day and game day recruiting operations, while supervising stud

Jason Wooding enters his first season as Tennessee’s associate director of football sports performance. He joined Derek Owings’ staff in January 2026. Woodin...

THE KNOWLES FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Education: Cornell, 1987 (B.S. Industrial and Labor Relations) Children: Halle, Luke, Jack COACHING HISTORY 1988: Cornell, Defensive Line 1989-94: Cornell, Running Backs 1995-96: Cornell, Linebackers 1997-2000: Western Michigan, Defensive Line 2001-02: Western Michigan, Defensive Coordinator 2003: Ole Miss, Linebackers 2004-09: Cornell, Head Coach 2010: Duke, Safeties 2011-17: Duke, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2018-21: Oklahoma State, Defensive Coordinator 2022-23: Ohio State, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2024: Ohio State, Defensive Coordinator 2025: Penn State, Defensive Coordinator POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (16) 2025 CFP National Championship – Ohio State 2025 CFP Semifinal (Cotton Bowl) – Ohio State 2025 CFP Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl) – Ohio State 2024 CFP First Round – Ohio State 2023 Cotton Bowl – Ohio State 2022 CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) – Ohio State 2022 Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State 2020 Cheez-It Bowl – Oklahoma State 2019 Texas Bowl – Oklahoma State 2018 Liberty Bowl – Oklahoma State 2017 Quick Lane Bowl – Duke 2015 Pinstripe Bowl – Duke 2014 Sun Bowl – Duke 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl – Duke 2012 Belk Bowl – Duke 2004 Cotton Bowl – Ole Miss Jim Knowles, a championship-winning assistant coach and one of the most esteemed defensive minds in football, was named Tennessee's new defensive coordinator on Dec. 11, 2025. Knowles brings 38 years of college football experience to Rocky Top,

updated summer 2025 Joey Halzle has served as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach during one of the most prolific offensive eras in school history, and he enters his third season as the Volunteers’ offensive coordinator in 2025. He was elevated to the role in January 2023. THE HALZLE FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Birthdate: Jan. 29, 1986 Hometown: Oak Park, California Education: Oklahoma, 2008 (bachelor’s in human relations); Oklahoma, 2014 (master’s in administrative leadership) Wife: Cara Children: Elliott, Saylor, Colson, Palmer COACHING HISTORY 2009-11: Oklahoma, Offensive Quality Control Assistant 2012-14: Oklahoma, Offensive Graduate Assistant 2015: Utah State, Offensive Analyst/Assistant Quarterback Coach 2016: Missouri, Offensive Analyst/Assistant Quarterback Coach 2019: UCF, Offensive Analyst 2020: UCF, Quarterbacks 2021-22: Tennessee, Quarterbacks 2023-present: Tennessee, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (5) 2012 Big 12 – Oklahoma (OGA) 2010 Big 12 – Oklahoma (OQC) 2008 Big 12 – Oklahoma (player) 2007 Big 12 – Oklahoma (player) 2006 Big 12 – Oklahoma (player) POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (14) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round - Tennessee 2024 Citrus Bowl - Tennessee 2022 Orange Bowl - Tennessee 2021 Music City Bowl - Tennessee 2020 Boca Raton Bowl - UCF 2019 Gasparilla Bowl – UCF 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Utah State 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl – Oklahoma 2014 Sugar Bowl – Oklahoma 2013 Cotton Bowl – Oklahoma 2011 Insig

FootballSkip AdBonamego , John Abeln , AlecCrabtree , Evan Elarbee, GlenGarner , Rodney Halzle, JoeyHeupel, JoshInge, WilliamJackson , Andrew Jones , Derek Knowles , Jim Poindexter , Anthony Pope , Kelsey Sims, De'Rail

Josh Huff joins Tennessee’s football staff in 2026 as director of applied performance science. Huff has worked closely with new Director of Football Sports P...

Kate Miller enters her third season at Tennessee as the executive assistant to head coach Josh Heupel. Miller coordinates Heupel's daily schedule and is involved in all facets of the program. Miller, a native of McMinnville, Oregon, came to Knoxville in the spring of 2021 after serving as the coordinator of football operations on Heupel's UCF staff from August 2018-January 2021. She was part of a UCF staff that went to three consecutive bowl games, posted a 28-8 overall record and won The American Athletic Conference in 2018. Prior to UCF, she was the assistant director of football operations and senior staff assistant at Indiana from October 2016-August 2018. Prior to her time at Indiana, Miller served four years at Cal as an accounting specialist. She also interned at Cal in travel and Olympic sport operations. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Idaho, where she was a student-athlete on the swimming and diving team. She also holds a master's degree in sport management from the University of San Francisco.

With over eight years of team nutrition experience, Katie O’Connor joined the Tennessee staff as director of football nutrition in January 2026. O’Connor, wh...

updated March 2026 The developer of a Biletnikoff Award winner and multiple NFL Draft picks, Kelsey Pope has established himself as one of the nation’s top wide receiver coaches. Pope was tabbed to the role by Josh Heupel in March 2022 after serving as an offensive analyst in 2021. He was promoted to pass game coordinator in December 2025 and enters his sixth season on staff at Tennessee in 2026. THE POPE FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Birthdate: May 8, 1992 Hometown: Sylacauga, Alabama Education: Samford, 2014 (bachelor’s in public administration) Playing Experience: Samford - WR (2010-13) Wife: Dacia Children: Knight COACHING HISTORY 2017-18: Ohio Northern, Running Backs 2018-19: Shorter (Ga.) University, Assistant Wide Receivers Coach 2019: Tennessee Tech, Wide Receivers 2020: Gardner-Webb, Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers 2021-22: Tennessee, Offensive Analyst 2022-present: Tennessee, Wide Receivers POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (5) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee 2024 Citrus Bowl – Tennessee 2022 Orange Bowl - Tennessee 2021 Music City Bowl – Tennessee NFL WIDE RECEIVERS COACHED Dont'e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders, 2025 Ramel Keyton, Las Vegas Raiders, 2024 Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants, 2023 Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns, 2023 Velus Jones Jr., Chicago Bears, 2022 In Pope’s previous five years with the program, the Volunteers have generated an SEC-best 34 individual 100-yard receiving games and multiple first-team All-SEC recipien

updated July 2024 Reggie Lane enters his third season as Tennessee football’s director of player development in 2024. He joined the Josh Heupel’s staff in th...

updated March 2026 One of the nation’s most esteemed defensive line coaches and recruiters returned to Rocky Top in 2021. Rodney Garner, a 37-year Southeastern Conference veteran known for developing NFL defensive linemen, enters his sixth season on Josh Heupel’s staff and his eighth at Tennessee overall. THE GARNER FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Born: June 30, 1966 Hometown: Leeds, Alabama Education: Auburn, 1990 (bachelor’s in criminology) Wife: Kimberly Children: Bridgett, Brielle, Jaiden, Kai, Sydney, Milan COACHING HISTORY 1990-95: Auburn, Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Strength & Conditioning 1996: Tennessee, Tight Ends 1997: Tennessee, Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles 1998-2004: Georgia, Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator 2005-12: Georgia, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line 2013-20: Auburn, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line 2021-present: Tennessee, Defensive Line CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (6) 2013 SEC – Auburn (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line) 2005 SEC – Georgia (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line) 2002 SEC – Georgia (Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator) 1997 SEC – Tennessee (Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles) 1988 SEC – Auburn (player) 1987 SEC – Auburn (player) POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (32) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round - Tennessee 2024 Citrus Bowl - Tennessee 2022 Orange Bowl - Tennessee 2021 Music City Bowl - Tennessee 2021 Citrus Bowl – Auburn 2020 Outback Bowl – Auburn 2018 Music City Bowl – Auburn 2018 Peach Bowl – Aub

updated July 2024 An established and familiar face returned to Rocky Top in 2021 as Scott Altizer serves as Tennessee’s Director of Football Relations. Altizer enters his 30th year at Tennessee and his fourth year as a member of Josh Heupel’s staff in 2024. Altizer is involved in numerous internal and external facets of the program and serves as liaison to VFLs, who have given their all for Tennessee over the years. Altizer returned after seven years in athletic administration at Chattanooga, including the last three years as Deputy Athletics Director. He served as UTC’s Interim Director of Athletics from June 13 through Sept. 17, 2017. Altizer oversaw a number of areas at Chattanooga, including business affairs, assigned event game operations, recruiting operations, internal communications, facilities and facilities planning and oversight for assigned sports. As oversight of the Mocs football team, Altizer helped UTC to back-to-back Southern Conference titles in 2014 and 2015 and three-straight appearances in the FCS Playoffs from 2014-16. Altizer served as the men’s basketball oversight during head coach Matt McCall’s tenure. That included the school-record 29-win season in 2015-16 that resulted in SoCon regular season and tournament titles. He also held oversight of the men’s and women’s golf, cross country/track and field and wrestling programs. He was instrumental in construction of the hitting bays at the golf programs’ player development complex. Altizer was part of th

Tennessee Athletics added a familiar face in February of 2020, as longtime assistant football coach Steve Caldwell returned to Rocky Top as Assistant Director of Life Skills & Character Development. Caldwell coached defensive ends on Phillip Fulmer's Tennessee football staff from 1995-2008 and was UT's special teams coordinator from 2000-05. Overall, Caldwell boasts more than 40 seasons of collegiate coaching experience. He was a part of 10 conference championship teams, two national championship teams—including Tennessee's 1998 BCS Championship squad—and he coached in 20 bowl games. Chief among Caldwell's duties in his administrative role is implementing and managing strategic development plans for incoming football student-athletes as they transition to campus life and high-level intercollegiate athletics. Caldwell engages with student-athletes from their signing, through enrollment and then assists with on-boarding processes. In addition to his 15 seasons on staff at Tennessee, Caldwell also coached at Arkansas State (1978-80, 1985-89, 2013), Pacific (1991-93), Nevada (1994), Ole Miss (1994-95), Arkansas (2010-12, 2018-19) and Boise State (2014-17). Among the many gridiron standouts Caldwell coached directly, a dozen players who developed in his position room were selected in the NFL Draft, including Leonard Little, Shaun Ellis, Will Overstreet and Super Bowl LIV champion Dustin Colquitt. Caldwell has walked in the shoes of the college football student-athlete, having play

THE INGE FILE PERSONAL INFORMATION Birthdate: Dec. 17, 1973 Hometown: Kirkwood, Missouri Education: Iowa, 1996 (bachelor’s in sports, health, leisure, physical studies); Iowa, 1999 (master’s in athletic administration) Playing Experience: Iowa – DL (1993-96) Wife: Rae Ann Children: Isaiah, Keara, Raya COACHING HISTORY 1998-2000: Iowa, Graduate Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator 2001-02: Northern Iowa, Linebackers 2003: Northern Iowa, Defensive Line 2004: Northern Iowa, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams 2005: Colorado, Defensive Line 2006-07: San Diego State, Linebackers 2008-09: Cincinnati, Linebackers 2010-11: Buffalo, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2012: Buffalo Bills (NFL), Assistant Defensive Line 2013-15: Indiana, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2016: Indiana, Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator 2017: Indiana, Linebackers 2018-19: Indiana, Special Teams Coordinator 2020-21: Fresno State, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2022-23: Washington, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2024-present: Tennessee, Linebackers CONFERENCE/DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 Pac-12 – Washington (co-DC/LB) 2008 Big East – Cincinnati (LB) 2008 Big East – Cincinnati (LB) 2005 Big 12 North – Colorado (DL) 2003 MVFC – Northern Iowa (DL) 2001 MFVC – Northern Iowa (LB) POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (14) 2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee 2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee 2024 CFP National Championship Game – Washington 2024 CFP Semifinal Sugar Bowl – Washington 2022 Alamo Bowl – Washi