KNOXVILLE - Tennessee didn't have to look far to find its new defensive line coach.
The longest part of the process of hiring John Palermo might have been looking at the 59-year-old's lengthy resume.
UT coach Derek Dooley filled one of the three remaining vacancies on his staff on Friday, tabbing Palermo to replace Lance Thompson, who became the sixth assistant to leave since the end of UT's 5-7 seasons when he took the job as Alabama's linebackers coach earlier this week.
Palermo has made numerous stops during his 37-year coaching career, most recently for two years at Middle Tennessee State, where he resigned after this season.
"John is one of the most respected defensive line coaches in the nation," Dooley said in a UT statement. "He has a history of coaching and developing multiple All-Americans, all-conference players, first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl players. Adding a coaching with John's abilities and successful track record will have a positive impact on our defensive line and our program."
Check back at online or see Saturday's Times Free Press for more on this story.