ATLANTA - In his time as Tennessee's football coach, Butch Jones has shown he's not afraid to shake up his staff, even it involves cutting ties with assistants who have worked for him for years.
With his fourth season leading the Volunteers still looming, Jones has changed both of his coordinators and his strength coach since arriving in Knoxville in December 2012.
In January, associate strength coach Mike Szerszen took over the day-to-day strength and conditioning operations of the football program for Dave Lawson, who had worked with Jones the previous nine seasons at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Tennessee. And after transitioning into a role overseeing the entire athletic department's strength and conditioning program, Lawson left Tennessee last month.
"That's a decision that you have to make, and you're constantly evaluating everything in your football program," Jones said Wednesday evening as the Big Orange Caravan kicked off at the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Caravan visits Chattanooga tonight, with the dinner and program from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Chattanoogan.
"I'm very thankful for Dave and what Dave did for our football program not just here at Tennessee, but everywhere else we've been," Jones added. "That's one of those things where leadership is lonely, and sometimes you're forced to make decisions that affect a lot of people and decisions that are in the best interests of our football program here at Tennessee in moving forward. Mike's been an individual that's been in our program, he understands it, but he's also been a student of strength and conditioning. He had numerous opportunities this year in the National Football League, and our players believe in him."
After stops as an assistant strength coach at West Virginia, Army and Eastern Michigan, Szerszen hooked up with Lawson and Jones at Cincinnati in 2010 and followed that duo to Tennessee after the 2012 season.
He's now an important figure in the program given how much time the players will spend with him and his staff during summer workouts ahead of preseason training camp in August.
"He's made a big difference, and this upcoming month we'll have more individuals on campus than we ever have," Jones said. "I think there's an excitement level about it. I think players have been able to see the gains that they've made. Dave did a great job as well in that area, but it's just something that I felt we needed in moving this football program forward."
Jones would not divulge if recurring injuries had anything to do with his decision, but he reiterated his desire for the Vols to become stronger and more explosive this offseason.
Szerszen has introduced some "philosophical differences with power cleans" and exercises to improve hip flexibility, but some aspects of the strength and conditioning program will remain the same.
"You're in the age now where every individual's going to have their own tailored plan," Jones said. "The groups are going to be small, and they're going to be coached on every rep. Our plans are individualized, and we make sure that we can make them the most complete, best football player that they can be."
Camps coming
When the NCAA banned satellite camps last month, Jones revealed that Tennessee had locations lined up outside Knoxville to have those recruiting showcases.
The ban has since been rescinded, allowing college coaches to travel to work camps hosted by high schools or other programs, and the Vols are moving forward with previous plans.
Jones said Wednesday that Tennessee would hold an in-state camp and have coaches travel to attend some out-of-state camps hosted by multiple college programs.
"We had a plan going in place and we'll execute that plan, but it's evolving," Jones said. "The plan is evolving just because of the different camps that are coming all over. Our stance really hasn't changed.
"We'll do a couple and our coaches will get out and do a few, but for us, we have to get prospective student-athletes to our campus. That's first and foremost, so they can experience all the positive energy and excitement, our facilities, get around our people."
Creamer to transfer
Jones indicated third-year sophomore tight end Neiko Creamer would look to transfer after the spring semester.
The son of former Tennessee defensive back/punt returner Andre Creamer, he played in just one game last season and was buried on the depth chart in spring practice.
"Neiko Creamer is going to look (around)," Jones said. "Neiko's worked very hard. We're going to help him find a spot where he feels (he) fits in and he can go in and help immediately."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.