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.”