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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — University of Tennessee head coach Butch Jones announced today the assistant coaching staff for the 2013 Vols. The Tennessee coaching staff has coached and played in a combined 94 bowl games, including 13 bowls that are part of the Bowl Championship Series, as well as four NFL Playoff games and a Super Bowl. The coaches have helped guide their teams to 38 conference championships and three national championships.
“I am very excited about the staff we have been able to attract here to the University of Tennessee,” said Jones, who was hired on Dec. 7. “I said at my press conference that it would start with effective communicators, great teachers and individuals that could be become role models to our players. This staff features individuals are that fundamentalists in their techniques of the game and great recruiters who have a passion to be at Tennessee. We have been able to assemble a championship staff. When you look at the experience of these coaches over their careers, there is a great amount of continuity and familiarity.
“Our staff is comprised of teachers and mentors from all levels of football that have been successful and know what it takes to win championships. I have done my due diligence to compose what I feel is one of the best coaching staffs in the country, and I know everyone associated with Tennessee football will be proud of this staff. I know each of them is looking forward to representing the orange and being a part of Tennessee football.”
Current running backs coach Jay Graham will continue on the Volunteers staff, with the remainder of the 2012 staff members not retained. The wide receivers coaching position remains to be determined.
Mike Bajakian will serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, with John Jancek serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Steve Stripling will be the Vols’ assistant head coach and work with the defensive line.
Joining Bajakian and Graham on the offensive side of the ball will be offensive line coach Don Mahoney and tight ends coach Mark Elder, who will also serve as special teams coordinator.
Along with Stripling and Jancek on the defensive side of the ball will be Willie Martinez, who will coach safeties and Tommy Thigpen, who will coach cornerbacks.
Additionally, Dave Lawson will be joining the Tennessee staff as the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning.
2013 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSSEE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Butch Jones, Head Coach
Mike Bajakian, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
John Jancek, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Mark Elder, Tight Ends
Jay Graham, Running Backs
Don Mahoney, Offensive Line
Willie Martinez, Safeties
Steve Stripling, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
Tommy Thigpen, Cornerbacks
TBA, Wide Receivers
Dave Lawson, Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
VOLS ASSISTANT COACHES AT A GLANCE
Mike Bajakian
(pronounced buh-JAKE-ee-an)
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Williams College (Mass.) ‘96
· Coached in seven bowl games, helped teams to four conference championships
· Won two NFL division titles, coached in four NFL Playoff games including Super Bowl XLI
· Two-time nominee for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach
· Spent three seasons as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks from 2010-12
· Previously spent three seasons in the same position at Central Michigan (2007-09) and three seasons with the Chicago Bears of the NFL (2004-06)
· Was on the Bears coaching staff during Super Bowl XLI in Miami
· His offenses have scored 30-plus points in 55.1% of his career games
· The Bearcats led the Big East in 2012 with 6.32 yards per play
· Under Bajakian, quarterback Zach Collaros became only the second passer in school history to reach the 6,000-yard and 50-touchdown milestone. He left Cincinnati with a 62% completion percentage, 6,278 yards passing, and 51 touchdowns
· The Bearcats won conference titles in each of the last two seasons, scoring an average of 33.3 points per game and 385 yards per game in 2011
· The 2012 Cincinnati team turned the ball over on only 13.1% of possessions, the 20th-best rate in the nation
· In 2010, Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring offense (27.1 ppg), total offense (417.3 ypg), passing offense (260.7 ypg), first downs (21.9 ypg), third-down conversions (45.6 pct.) and touchdown passes (27)
· Tutored Isaiah Pead, the 2011 Big EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year who recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2010-11 and was a second-round selection of the St. Louis Rams
· At Central Michigan, his offenses from 2007-09 were the three highest-scoring teams in school history since the school joined the MAC in 1975 while also breaking or tying 30 school offense records.
· Coached CMU QB Dan LeFevour, who ended his career with the Chippewas with an NCAA FBS-record 150 touchdowns (102 passing, 47 rushing, 1 receiving)
· LeFevour also finished his CMU career with 15,853 yards of total offense, trailing only Hawaii’s Timmy Chang at the time (16,910).
· A native of Oradell, N.J. who was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference and an All-ECAC quarterback at Williams College.
Bajakian’s Coaching Career
2010-12 Cincinnati Off. Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2007-09 Central Michigan Off. Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2004-06 Chicago Bears Offensive Quality Control/Wide Receivers
2002-03 Central Michigan Quarterbacks
2000-01 Michigan Graduate Assistant/Quarterbacks
2000 Sacred Heart Quarterbacks
1998-99 Rutgers Graduate Assistant/Asst., Defensive Backs
1996-97 Delbarton School Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator
Mark Elder
Tight Ends
Case Western Reserve ‘00
· Coached in seven bowl games, including one BCS bowl game in helping his teams to four conference championships
· Joins Tennessee after three seasons at Cincinnati (2010-12)
· Coached safeties and served as the special teams coordinator in 2012
· Mentored running backs for the Bearcats in 2011 and tight ends in 2010
· Tutored 2011 First Team All-Big East and Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead in 2011, who became the first Bearcats back to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 25 years
· Coached Second Team All-Big East tight end Ben Guidugli in 2010.
· The Bearcats won conference titles in each of the last two seasons, including an average of 33.3 points per game and 385 yards per game in 2011
· In 2010, Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring offense (27.1 ppg), total offense (417.3 ypg), passing offense (260.7 ypg), first downs (21.9 ypg), third-down conversions (45.6 pct.) and touchdown passes (27)
· Spent three seasons coaching linebackers at Central Michigan (2007-09)
· Produced an all-conference linebacker in each of his three seasons with the Chippewas
· Served as a graduate assistant at Michigan from 2005-06 under Lloyd Carr
· Worked closely with the linebackers at Michigan, including All-Big 10 performers David Harris and Shawn Crable
· Is a 2000 graduate of Case Western Reverse in Cleveland, Ohio ,where he graduated cum laude and was a three-time all-conference selection as a defensive back.
Elder’s Coaching Career
2012 Cincinnati Safeties/Special Teams
2011 Cincinnati Running Backs
2010 Cincinnati Tight Ends
2007-09 Central Michigan Linebackers
2005-06 Michigan Graduate Assistant/Defense
2004 Wayne State Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2003 Iona Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2002 Lehigh Asst. Linebackers
2000-01 Akron Grad. Asst., Defensive Backs
Jay Graham
Running Backs
Tennessee’ ‘04
· Coached and played in seven bowl games
· In 2012, coached running backs for the Vols, during which the Vols more than doubled their rushing output, from 70.4 yards per game in 2011 to 160.3 yards per game this season
· Joined the Vols after three seasons at South Carolina, where he coached running backs and tight ends during his tenure
· Tutored standout running back Marcus Lattimore while with the Gamecocks, who was on pace to become the first South Carolina rusher to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the school since Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for the final five games
· Rushed for 2,609 yards as a Vol from 1993-96 and ranks seventh on the Tennessee career rushing yards list
· His 11 100-yard games in 1995 are the most in one season UT history, and his 14 career 100-yard games rank second in Tennessee history
· Earned All-SEC second team honors as both a junior and a senior and helped the Vols to three bowl victories.
· Also coached at Miami (Ohio), UT Martin, San Diego, and UT Chattanooga
· Began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee.
· Was a third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 and spent six seasons in the NFL with Baltimore, Seattle, and Green Bay.
Graham’s Coaching Career
2012 Tennessee Running Backs
2009-11 South Carolina Running Backs/Tight Ends
2008 Miami (Ohio) Offensive Assistant
2007 UT Martin Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
2007 San Diego Running Backs, Co-Special Teams Coordinator
2006 UT Chattanooga Running Backs
2005 Tennessee Graduate Assistant
John Jancek
(pronounced JAN-sek)
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Grand Valley State ‘91
· Coached in seven bowl games while helping teams to five conference championships, including one SEC title and one national championship
· Joins the Vols after spending the last three seasons at Cincinnati
· Worked as the Bearcats sole defensive coordinator in 2012 after serving as UC’s co-defensive coordinator in 2010 and 2011
· Also served as Bearcats recruiting coordinator for two seasons, signing the BIG EAST’s top recruiting class according the Sporting News in 2011
· Coached UC’s defense to a Top 20 ranking in scoring defense in 2011 and 2012
· Guided UC to the nation’s leading defense in terms of tackles for loss (8.62 per game) and second in sacks (3.46) in 2011
· Coached 2011 BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year and current Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe
· Prior to Cincinnati, spend five seasons at the University of Georgia (2005-09)
· Coached the linebackers in all five seasons with the Bulldogs and served as co-defensive coordinator in 2009
· During his five years in Athens, helped the Bulldogs to 48 wins, two BCS Bowl games, an SEC Championship and finished in the Top 10 three times
· In 2009, mentored Rennie Curran, who led the SEC in tackles and was a finalist for the Lombardi and Bendarik Awards before going to the play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
· Coached at Central Michigan from 2003-04 working with the defensive line his first year and as defensive coordinator in the second season
· Worked at Division II power, his alma mater Grand Valley State from 1999-2002, helping GVSU to the D-II National Championship under current Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly in 2002
· Also worked at Wayne State (1992-96), Central Florida (1996), Hillsdale College in Michigan (1996-98)
· Muskegeon, Mich., native, graduated from Grand Valley State in 1991 and earned a master’s degree from Wayne State in 1994
Jancek’s Coaching Career
2010-12 Cincinnati Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2009 Georgia Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2005-08 Georgia Linebackers
2004 Central Michigan Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
2003 Central Michigan Defensive Line
1999-2002 Grand Valley State Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1996-98 Hillsdale (Mich.) Defensive Coordinator
1996 Central Florida Defensive Tackles
1992-94 Wayne State Defensive Coordinator
1991 Grand Valley State Graduate Assistant
Don Mahoney
Offensive Line
West Virginia State, ‘93
· Help guide seven teams to bowl games and five conference titles
· Joins Tennessee after three seasons as the offensive line coach at Cincinnati (2010-12)
· The Bearcats led the Big East over the last two seasons with a combined 189.1 rushing yards per game from 2011-12
· Cincinnati is also the only Big East team to average more than two rushing touchdowns per game (2.08) over the last two years
· The 2011 Bearcats featured two offensive lineman on the All-Big East team
· In 2010, Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring offense (27.1 ppg), total offense (417.3 ypg), passing offense (260.7 ypg), first downs (21.9 ypg), third-down conversions (45.6 pct.) and touchdown passes (27)
· Also coached 2010 second team All-Big East offensive lineman Jason Kelce, a 2011 Philadelphia Eagles draft pick who started every game as a rookie
· Coached offensive lineman at Central Michigan from 2007-09, during which time Chippewa offensive lineman received a total of six All-MAC selections
· Spent eight seasons at Tulane coaching the offensive line
· At Tulane, his offensive lines paved the way for the top rusher, all-purpose yardage gainer, top passer, and top scorer in school history
· Coached at Central Michigan for six seasons before joining Tulane
· Tutoring a total of six All-MAC selections for the Chippewas
· Previously spent eight seasons at Tulane and six prior to that with CMU.
Mahoney’s Coaching Career
2012-10 Cincinnati Offensive Line
2007-09 Central Michigan Offensive Line
1999-2006 Tulane Offensive Line
1995-98 Central Michigan Tight Ends
1993-94 Central Michigan Graduate Assistant
Willie Martinez
Safeties
Miami (Fla.) ‘85
· Has coached and played in 14 bowl games while winning three conference titles, including two SEC titles and a national championship
· Coached at Auburn in 2012, serving as secondary coach
· Has spent nine of his nearly 25 years in coaching in the SEC
· Spent the 2010-11 seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oklahoma, helping Sooners to a 23-5 record and the Big 12 Championship in 2010
· Sooners, led by All-American and current Denver Bronco Quinton Carter, led the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.1)
· OU finished eighth in the NCAA in pass efficiency defense in 2010
· Prior to Oklahoma, worked as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Georgia from 2001-09
· While the Bulldogs, helped team to 90 wins, two SEC titles, three division crowns, seven bowl victories and six top 10 finishes, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002
· Worked as Georgia’s defensive coordinator from 2005-09 and guided defense to several national top statistical rankings including eighth in scoring defense in 2005, fifth in passing defense and eighth in total defense in 2006, eighth in sacks in 2007
· Served as assistant head coach and secondary coach at Central Michigan in 2000 as the Chippewas led the NCAA in passing defense (149.7 yards per game)
· Worked as Central Michigan’s secondary coach in 1998-99
· Also held the following coaching positions: secondary coach at Eastern Michigan in 1997, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Central Florida in 1995-96, secondary coach Central Michigan in 1994, defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 1992-93
· Coached in the Florida high school ranks in 1991 at Olympic Heights H.S. and in 1990 at Boca Raton H.S.
· Began coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Miami (Fla.), in 1985-86 before serving as quarterbacks and receivers coach at Bethune-Cookman in 1988
· A Hollywood Hills, Fla., native, played defensive back for four seasons at Miami, where he won the 1983 National Championship
Martinez’ Coaching Career
2012 Auburn Secondary
2010-11 Oklahoma Secondary
2005-09 Georgia Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2001-04 Georgia Secondary
2000 Central Michigan Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
1998-99 Central Michigan Secondary
1997 Eastern Michigan Secondary
1995-96 Central Florida Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1994 Central Michigan Secondary
1992-93 Grand Valley State Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1991 Olympic Heights (Fla.) H.S. Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1990 Boca Raton (Fla.) H.S Secondary
1988 Bethune-Cookman Quarterbacks/Receivers
1985-86 Miami (Fla.) Graduate Assistant
Steve Stripling
Defensive Line
Colorado ‘76
· Veteran of more than 30 years in coaching, playing or coaching in 22 bowl games in his career
· Helped teams to six conference championships, including four in last seven years
· Spent the last three years at Cincinnati, working as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach from 2010-12; added responsibility of defensive run-game coordinator for 2011-12
· Coached NFL Draft selections Derek Wolfe of the Denver Broncos and John Hughes of the Cleveland Browns
· Guided Bearcats to one of the nation’s most improved defense’s in 2011, as UC led NCAA in tackles for loss (8.62), finished second overall in sacks (3.46) and placed sixth in rushing defense (96.23 yards per game)
· Cincinnati finished in the top 20 in the NCAA in scoring defense in 2011 and 2012
· Coached at Central Michigan in 2009 as the associate head coach-defense, working with the defensive ends
· Coached the Chippewas to the 2010 GMAC Bowl Championship as interim head coach after Butch Jones left CMU to take over at Cincinnati
· Coached the defensive line at Michigan from 2005-07, mentoring All-American and Lombardi Award winner LaMarr Woodley, who currently stars for the Pittsburgh Steelers
· In 2006, the Wolverines led the NCAA in rushing defense, allowing just 43.3 yards per game
· Coached in the Big Ten for a total of 22 years with stints at Michigan State (2003-04), Minnesota (1997-2000) and Indiana (1984-96), where he was the defensive coordinator in 1996
· Also coached at Louisville in 2001 and 2002, coaching Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Dewayne White, who was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top draft pick in 2003
· First full-time coaching job came at Northern Illinois from 1980-83, as he helped Huskies to the 1983 Mid-American championship as the team’s offensive line coach
· Served as recruiting coach at North Carolina in 1979 after two seasons as a graduate assistant as his alma mater, Colorado in 1977-78
· Played in three bowls as an offensive lineman at Colorado, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Boulder
· Signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 1976
Stripling’s Coaching Career
2010-12 Cincinnati Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
2009 Central Michigan Interim Head Coach/Associate Head Coach/Defensive Ends
2005-07 Michigan Defensive Line
2003-04 Michigan State Defensive Line
2001-02 Louisville Defensive Line
1997-2000 Minnesota Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator
1996 Indiana Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1990-95 Indiana Defensive Line
1984-89 Indiana Offensive Line
1980-83 Northern Illinois Offensive Line
1979 North Carolina Recruiting Coach
1977-78 Colorado Graduate Assistant
Tommy Thigpen
Cornerbacks
North Carolina ‘93
· Spent last four seasons in the SEC at Auburn, winning the 2010 season BCS Championship
· Coached and played in six bowl games in his career
· Worked as Tigers’ linebackers coach in 2012 after serving as safeties coach from 2009-11
· Helped Auburn to ninth-best rushing defense in the NCAA in 2010 (109.1 yards per game)
· Came to Auburn after working four seasons at his alma mater, North Carolina from 2005-08, where he was the Tar Heels’ linebackers coach
· Named one of the nation’s Top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com in 2007
· Coached at Illinois for two seasons as linebackers coach in 2004 and cornerbacks coach in 2003
· Spent 2001 and 2002 at Bowling Green as the Falcons cornerbacks and special teams coach
· First full-time coaching job came as linebackers coach at Tennessee State in 2000
· Served as a graduate assistant at North Carolina 1998-99
· After an All-ACC career at UNC, was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1993 draft
· Also played for the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football in 1995-96
· Won four letters as a linebacker with UNC and served as team captain as a senior in 1992
Thigpen’s Coaching Career
2012 Auburn Linebackers
2009-11 Auburn Safeties
2005-08 North Carolina Linebackers
2004 Illinois Linebackers
2003 Illinois Cornerbacks
2001-02 Bowling Green Cornerbacks/Special Teams
2000 Tennessee State Linebackers
1998-99 North Carolina Graduate Assistant
Dave Lawson
Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
West Virginia Tech ‘92
· Has been a part of 10 teams that played in bowl games and four that won conference titles
· Spent last three years at Cincinnati as the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance and Director of Football strength and conditioning at the University of Cincinnati
· Spent three years at Central Michigan University (2007-09) where he oversaw and directed the strength and conditioning efforts for all 16 CMU varsity athletic programs
· Certified strength and conditioning coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association and a certified speed and explosion specialist by the National Association of Speed and Explosion
· Coached seven Strength and Conditioning All-Americans, eight football All-Americans and more than 80 football players either drafted or signed as free agents by the NFL
· In 2009, recognized as a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, the highest honor presented in the field, by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA)
· Two CMU student-athletes–football player Brian Brunner and softball player Ali Pettit–earned Strength and Conditioning All-America honors under his tutelage in 2009
· Spent five years working at Eastern Michigan University as the head strength and conditioning coach from 2002-08
· Worked at West Virginia for seven seasons from 1994-2002
· Started as a graduate assistant in 1994 before being named assistant strength and conditioning coordinator in May 1995. Working with all 22 varsity sports and a football team that went to five straight bowl games and the men’s basketball team that advanced to the NCAA and National Invitational Tournaments
· Began career as an undergraduate at West Virginia Tech, as student assistant on both the strength and conditioning staff and football coaching staff
· Named head strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater and served as an assistant on the football staff, coaching defensive linemen and special teams in 1992 and 1993
· Earned a bachelor of arts degree in physical education from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1992 and a master of science degree in physical education from West Virginia University in 1995
Lawson’s Coaching Career
2010-12 Cincinnati Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance and
Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
2007-09 Central Michigan Director of Strength and Conditioning
2002-08 Eastern Michigan Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
1995-02 West Virginia Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
1994-95 West Virginia Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant
1992-94 West Virginia Tech Student Assistant
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