Ten new assistants will roam the sidelins or man the coaches’ box for Tennessee in 2018. Several have worked with Jeremy Pruitt before. Others have not. Here’s the skinny on the staff:
Tyson Helton, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Helton coordinated a Western Kentucky offense in 2015 that produced the 11th-most passing yards in a season by an individual in NCAA history. Most recently, he worked with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, quarterback Sam Darnold, at Southern California. Helton was the passing game coordinator at USC alongside offensive coordinator Tee Martin. He and Pruitt have not worked together previously.
David Johnson, wide receivers
Johnson has deep roots in Louisiana, which makes him an asset for the Volunteers on the recruiting trail. He spent the last two seasons coaching receivers at Memphis. Among his pupils was Anthony Miller, who left Memphis with a litany of school records. He and Pruitt have not worked together previously.
Chris Weinke, running backs
The former Heisman Trophy-winning Florida State quarterback has never coached running backs before, but he is familiar with Pruitt after spending last season as an analyst at Alabama. He’s also played quarterback and coached quarterbacks at the NFL level.
Brian Niedermeyer, tight ends
After graduate assistant stints at Georgia and Alabama, Niedermeyer spent last season on the support staff at Alabama. Now he is getting his first shot as a full-time assistant on the Division I level. He might be the only full-time assistant from Alaska on a Power Five staff.
Tennessee tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer uses a whiteboard on the sideline during the Orange and White spring game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tenn.Will Friend, offensive line
A former teammate of Pruitt at Alabama, Friend is leaving behind an offensive coordinator gig at Colorado State to become a handsomely paid position coach in Knoxville. He is familiar with the territory, having spent 2011-14 as Georgia’s offensive line coach.
Kevin Sherrer, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers
Another former teammate of Pruitt at Alabama, Sherrer comes to Tennessee from Georgia, where he spent four seasons coaching outside linebackers. Pruitt, Friend and Sherrer all were assistants on the 2014 Georgia staff. Sherrer’s only previous experience as a Division I defensive coordinator came in 2013 at South Alabama.
Chris Rumph, co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers
Rumph and Pruitt worked together previously at Alabama, and after three seasons on staff at Florida working primarily with the defensive line, Rumph will coach outside linebackers in Knoxville. He played linebacker at South Carolina from 1991 to 1994.
Tracy Rocker, defensive line
An elder statesman on the relatively young staff, the 52-year-old Rocker coached defensive line at Georgia in 2014 and 2015 when Pruitt was the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator. He comes to Knoxville after spending a season out of coaching.
Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker works with Jonathan Kongbo to demonstrate a drill as Kyle Phillips watches.
Terry Fair, cornerbacks
The two-time All-SEC cornerback at Tennessee is back after spending three seasons as defensive backs coach at Colorado State. He and Pruitt are working together for the first time, and Pruitt also is actively involved in coaching cornerbacks.
Charles Kelly, safeties/special teams
Kelly and Pruit worked together at Florida State in 2013 when Pruitt was the Seminoles’ defensive coordinator. Kelly took over the role once Pruitt left for Georgia. Now they are reunited in Knoxville.