The newest rumor concerning the UT coaching search involves Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach. A television station in Austin, Texas has been reported to have leaked the information that Leach has been offered the head coaching job at Tennessee.
This information has not been confirmed at this time, but it would be interesting to see if Leach accepts the offer, if there is one, and when he would choose to announce if in fact he plans to head to East Tennessee. More information coming as more details surface.
I do find it interesting that no one has mentioned the name of the station, and I find the timing odd as well. I personally do not think that in the middle of arguably the most important coaching search in UT history that they would offer Leach at this point in the season.
Other coaching tidbits include talk about Lane Kiffin. Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel says in his blog that a source close to the program told him that UT is interesting in Kiffin, and he believes that Kiffin has been or will be interviewed by Tennessee.
Brian Kelly is apparently still in the picture, but according to Griffith, Tennessee may not be sold on Kelly and his ability to recruit or win at the SEC level. Butch Davis has been mentioned as the safest choice, but he did say that he is not interested in the Tennessee job.
According to Chris Mortenson of ESPN, Tennessee has inquired of two NFL coaches to date. Former Vol assistant Lovie Smith and Jon Gruden. Word is, Tennessee wants to see if either coach has any interest in coaching for the Volunteers.
Gruden signed a contract extension with the Bucs after the 2007 season that makes him among the NFL's best-paid coaches. Smith signed an extension with the Bears after the 2006 season.
My guess is that the rumors will continue to fly for a while longer, and every coach seems to be fair game regardless of the situation. I also would think that if the rumors about Leach were true, we would have been informed of the specific information by now.