KNOXVILLE - Tennessee football coach Butch Jones offered a glowing review of his revamped coaching staff Tuesday as the Volunteers hit the halfway point for five weeks of spring practices.
With seven practices down and seven to go before the April 22 Orange and White Game at Neyland Stadium, Jones has had a chance to assess the way his new position coaches interact with their players in meetings and on the practice field.
"I've been really, really pleased," Jones said. "I think they've brought a lot of energy and a little bit different perspective."
Six assistants on the staff are new to the program or in new roles for the 2017 season. Just two - running backs coach Robert Gillespie and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen - have been with Jones since his first season leading the Vols in 2013.
"The chemistry has really been remarkable in a short time among the coaching staff," Jones said, "and that's very important, because that trickles down to the players. You talk about being a brotherhood and a family, and we've had that."
Jones said he is going into every position meeting room and said he's been encouraged, too, by players coaching each other, even as they transition to their new position coaches.
First-year defensive line coach Brady Hoke said there "are a lot of similarities" between his coaching style and that of former defensive line coach Steve Stripling, who remains in the program in a support role. As for chemistry with his colleagues, Hoke said he "think it's been fantastic."
I think (defensive coordinator) Bob (Shoop) has a nice plan and does a great job of coordinating and communicating with us and the players," said Hoke, a former head coach at Michigan.
The Vols followed this past Saturday's scrimmage with a "technique Tuesday," as they continue with a Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule leading into the spring game.
Saturday's scrimmage was closed to reporters, but the open portion of Tuesday's practice included position-specific drills meant to reinforce the fundamentals.
"One of the best, most productive days we've had all spring," Jones said.
Jones and his new assistants butted in on the technical drills to offer plenty of advice, with first-year wide receivers coach Kevin Beard even planting himself on the line of scrimmage and demonstrating to players what he wanted to see.
"If you look at hiring individuals that are former head coaches, former interim head coaches and coordinators, that's great," Jones said. "But I think the communication aspect of it has been great to this point.
"I think our players feel it. We're getting better every day, and a lot of that is our coaches are pushing them."
Parting praise
Just like many of his assistant coaches, Jones also has a new boss.
Dave Hart, the athletic director who hired Jones, left the athletic complex as athletic director for the last time Friday. New athletic director John Currie started Saturday.
"I'm very grateful and thankful to Dave Hart and everything he did for football and for this institution," Jones said. "We're in a much better place than we were when he came here. So, again, respect the job he did and consider him a great friend."
Currie said multiple times Monday that he and Jones shared a cup of coffee in Jones' office Saturday morning as the AD logged his first official minutes on the job.
"I'm really excited to start working with John Currie," Jones said. "John and I have met a lot and are building that relationship. We knew of each other and spent time together prior to his arrival here."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.