University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones talks about the 2015 recruitment class on National Signing Day on Feb. 4, 2015, in Knoxville.KNOXVILLE — Tennessee made official Friday the hiring of Mike DeBord as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, but staff changes for the Volunteers didn’t stop there.
Receivers coach Zach Azzanni and running backs coach Robert Gillespie both received promotions after two years on head coach Butch Jones’s staff. Azzanni was named the passing game coordinator, and Gillespie will assume Azzanni’s role as recruiting coordinator.
Each made $300,000 in 2014, but the promotions will come with pay raises in addition to new titles and duties. Tennessee announced in December it would increase the salary pool for its assistant coaches.
“Zach has been instrumental in our continued growth, development and success as an offense, particularly in the passing game,” Jones said in Tennessee’s release announcing the promotions. “He is consistently on the cutting edge of offensive football, and I look forward to his continued contributions to our offense here at Tennessee.
“Robert continues to demonstrate the interpersonal and organizational skills required to lead a coaching staff in attracting the highest caliber student-athlete. He has made tremendous contributions with his efforts in coaching our running backs and with the entire recruiting process. We know he will continue to play a significant role in our recruiting success.