Fulmer and the (lack of) coaching tree

#1

Ohio Vol

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#1
I was slogging through a good bit of information and a thought hit me. I could think of two assistants that Fulmer hired who ended up becoming head coaches somewhere down the line, so I decided to piece together the coaching staffs from his 16 years in charge of hiring and firing a staff.

I may be missing someone who became an interim head coach or was at a small school for a period of time, so here is the overall list. What's interesting is that his two hires who became head coaches were here for a combined three years...and in the case of Clawson, he had already been a head coach and his ending up as a D-1A head coach was pretty much inevitable anyway.

1993
Mark Bradley - tight ends (carried over from Majors era)
Kippy Brown - receivers
Jacob Burney - defensive line
John Chavis - linebackers (carried over from Majors era)
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks (carried over from Majors era)
Larry Marmie - DC (carried over from Majors era)
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs (carried over from Majors era)
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1994
Mark Bradley - tight ends
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Kippy Brown - receivers
John Chavis - linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Marmie - DC
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1995
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1996
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1997
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1998
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs/recruiting coordinator
Pat Washington - receivers

1999
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2000
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2001
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Doug Marrone - tight ends/offensive tackles
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2002
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2003
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2004
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2005
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2006
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2007
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2008
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Dave Clawson - OC/quarterbacks
Stan Drayton - running backs
Jason Michael - tight ends/offensive line
Latrell Scott - receivers
Larry Slade - defensive backs
 
#3
#3
Smith and Marrone - Fulmer (16 yrs)

Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Walt Harris, Ron Zook, Tommy West, Dom Capers, Steve Pederson (Pitt AD), Al Saunders (former Chargers HC now w/ Ravens), Gruden (GA) - Majors (16 yrs)
 
#4
#4
Smith and Marrone - Fulmer (16 yrs)

Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Walt Harris, Ron Zook, Tommy West, Dom Capers, Steve Pederson (Pitt AD), Al Saunders (former Chargers HC now w/ Ravens), Gruden (GA) - Majors (16 yrs)

Or to look at it by chronology....

Lovie Smith (1993-94)
Doug Marrone (2001)
Dave Clawson (2008)

Yeesh, that's horrid.
 
#6
#6
Maybe they were all loyal and their life dreams were to be an assistant coach under Fulmer.

For those that can't tell I am being sarcastic.
 
#7
#7
I miss Mike Barry. His departure coincided with the decline of our program. Not saying he was the only reason, but we played a lot softer on the OL after he left.
 
#8
#8
I was slogging through a good bit of information and a thought hit me. I could think of two assistants that Fulmer hired who ended up becoming head coaches somewhere down the line, so I decided to piece together the coaching staffs from his 16 years in charge of hiring and firing a staff.

I may be missing someone who became an interim head coach or was at a small school for a period of time, so here is the overall list. What's interesting is that his two hires who became head coaches were here for a combined three years...and in the case of Clawson, he had already been a head coach and his ending up as a D-1A head coach was pretty much inevitable anyway.

1993
Mark Bradley - tight ends (carried over from Majors era)
Kippy Brown - receivers
Jacob Burney - defensive line
John Chavis - linebackers (carried over from Majors era)
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks (carried over from Majors era)
Larry Marmie - DC (carried over from Majors era)
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs (carried over from Majors era)
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1994
Mark Bradley - tight ends
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Kippy Brown - receivers
John Chavis - linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Marmie - DC
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1995
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1996
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1997
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1998
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs/recruiting coordinator
Pat Washington - receivers

1999
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2000
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2001
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Doug Marrone - tight ends/offensive tackles
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2002
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2003
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2004
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2005
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2006
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2007
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2008
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Dave Clawson - OC/quarterbacks
Stan Drayton - running backs
Jason Michael - tight ends/offensive line
Latrell Scott - receivers
Larry Slade - defensive backs



THANKS for the research! I always use to point how Fulmer's coaching tree is almost non exsistant. I bet Cutcliffe's is and will be to. They're both just too loyal to the same crappy assistants.
 
#10
#10
THANKS for the research! I always use to point how Fulmer's coaching tree is almost non exsistant. I bet Cutcliffe's is and will be to. They're both just too loyal to the same crappy assistants.

Might have less to do with loyalty, and more to do with an inability (or fear) of hiring the kind of talent that could one day supplant them as head coach.
 
#12
#12
Might have less to do with loyalty, and more to do with an inability (or fear) of hiring the kind of talent that could one day supplant them as head coach.

That's always been my interpretation. He made sure to put people in place that weren't HC material so they wouldn't do to him what he did to Majors.

Chavis was the perfect example of this. He was good enough (maybe) to justify keeping in place but not a real threat to ever become HC at UT.
 
#13
#13
That's always been my interpretation. He made sure to put people in place that weren't HC material so they wouldn't do to him what he did to Majors.

his last 2 OCs are now head men at D-I schools. And Majors did most of it to himself and Dickey just let him
 
#15
#15
I miss Mike Barry. His departure coincided with the decline of our program. Not saying he was the only reason, but we played a lot softer on the OL after he left.
THIS! I've thought that for years!
 
#17
#17
Even more telling is the fact no major program came calling this year.

THis.... I think Fulmer thought he was better than he actually was. The rest of the nation already new it, now he knows it too. Nobody's knocking down his door to hire him but everybody attacked us for firing a successful coach.

The kind of coach a lot of univeristies want now is the young up and comer who has something to prove.
 
#19
#19
I miss Mike Barry. His departure coincided with the decline of our program. Not saying he was the only reason, but we played a lot softer on the OL after he left.

he got fired from the lions last season and that's the last I've heard of him...
 
#20
#20
I was slogging through a good bit of information and a thought hit me. I could think of two assistants that Fulmer hired who ended up becoming head coaches somewhere down the line, so I decided to piece together the coaching staffs from his 16 years in charge of hiring and firing a staff.

I may be missing someone who became an interim head coach or was at a small school for a period of time, so here is the overall list. What's interesting is that his two hires who became head coaches were here for a combined three years...and in the case of Clawson, he had already been a head coach and his ending up as a D-1A head coach was pretty much inevitable anyway.

1993
Mark Bradley - tight ends (carried over from Majors era)
Kippy Brown - receivers
Jacob Burney - defensive line
John Chavis - linebackers (carried over from Majors era)
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks (carried over from Majors era)
Larry Marmie - DC (carried over from Majors era)
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs (carried over from Majors era)
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1994
Mark Bradley - tight ends
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Kippy Brown - receivers
John Chavis - linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Marmie - DC
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Randy Sanders - running backs
Lovie Smith - defensive backs

1995
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Steve Marshall - offensive line
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1996
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1997
Mark Bradley - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Rodney Garner - tight ends/offensive tackles
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

1998
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Kevin Ramsey - defensive backs
Randy Sanders - running backs/recruiting coordinator
Pat Washington - receivers

1999
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2000
Mike Barry - offensive line
Mark Bradley - tight ends/offensive tackles
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2001
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line/recruiting coordinator
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Doug Marrone - tight ends/offensive tackles
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2002
Mike Barry - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2003
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Woody McCorvey - running backs
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Pat Washington - receivers

2004
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2005
Greg Adkins - tight ends/offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Randy Sanders - OC/quarterbacks
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Jimmy Ray Stephens - offensive line
Trooper Taylor - running backs
Pat Washington - receivers

2006
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2007
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
David Cutcliffe - OC/quarterbacks
Matt Luke - tight ends/offensive line
Kurt Roper - running backs
Larry Slade - defensive backs
Trooper Taylor - receivers

2008
Greg Adkins - offensive line
Dan Brooks - defensive line
Steve Caldwell - defensive ends/special teams
John Chavis - DC/linebackers
Dave Clawson - OC/quarterbacks
Stan Drayton - running backs
Jason Michael - tight ends/offensive line
Latrell Scott - receivers
Larry Slade - defensive backs


I definitely believe it was time to move on from Fulmer, so don't look at this as Fulmerlovin' but I have to totally disagree with you on this one! Coach Fulmer treated his people so good that they passed up opportunities that were in front of them to stay at UT! CPF was known for embracing his assistants families, allowing them around the complexes, and treating them with the utmost respect. A lot of coaches aren't like that!

Chavis could have been a head coach, but he didn't want to go somewhere like La. Tech like Dooley when he had a good thing going at his alma mater and best friend.

Steve Caldwell passed on the DC job at Arkansas to stay with Phil as DEs coach!

Dan Brooks could have taken any number of small college jobs in the Carolinas when the Vols were on top of the world, but chose to stay in a great situation.

Trooper Taylor was offered the HC job at Hampton if you remember and chose to stay with Phil and wait for something better to open up.

Randy Sanders definitely was not ready to be an OC or Phil restricted him too much, but he is building his resume up at Kentucky.

Matt Luke and Kurt Roper are great coaches and are more from the Cutcliffe tree anyhow, so they don't count.

I wouldn't be inclined to count Latrell Scott who is now the HC at Richmond, but I'm sure he learned something about how to be a HC from Dave Clawson and Fulmer.

The reason the great Woody McCorvey left Knoxville was for the opportunity to be assistant head coach at Miss. State

The overall point I'd like to make is a lot of coaches don't become head coaches, because they don't put themselves in position to become head coaches. It's hard to go from a position coach to a head coach. A lot of people would like to see you do some type of coordinating first. A lot of people would rather you take a job at a smaller school and prove yourself before handing over the reigns! Urban Meyer didn't go from Notre Dame wide receivers coach to head coach at Florida! Fulmer was loyal to a fault to his assistant coaches and they loved him for it!
 
#21
#21
Its unreal how Fulmer had some good hires that stayed on two/three years (Kippy Brown, Lovie Smith, Rodney Garner, Kevin Ramsey...lousy coach/great recruiter, Mike Barry.....though he was there 4 years, Doug Marone)

and then he could make some just awful hires and keep those guys are forever (Pat Washington, Mark Bradley....dang he was terrible, Randy Sanders, Larry Slade, Jimmy Ray Stevens, Woody McCorvey, Greg Adkins, Kurt Roper).

who would you say was the WORST hire Fulmer ever made?
 
#22
#22
I miss Mike Barry. His departure coincided with the decline of our program. Not saying he was the only reason, but we played a lot softer on the OL after he left.

I've always wondered about that. I really don't remember enough to know what type of recruiter/evaluator he was. Did the change come from the type/quality of guys or was his coaching responsible? Could be a coincidence, but not very likely.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#23
#23
his last 2 OCs are now head men at D-I schools. And Majors did most of it to himself and Dickey just let him

Cutcliff yes, but Clawson is a Head Coach after getting fired from here, so I'm not sure that would actually be a glowing endorsement for Fulmer. Especially considering that success that he has had at Bowling Green versus the absolute joke that it was here.

In my opinion it was equally on Majors and Fulmer. Amazing how these two men can't stand each other, yet they are so much alike in the fact they thought of themselves as the UT program and untouchable when it came to them being removed as HC.
 
#24
#24
I've always wondered about that. I really don't remember enough to know what type of recruiter/evaluator he was. Did the change come from the type/quality of guys or was his coaching responsible? Could be a coincidence, but not very likely.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I don't know about Barry's recruiting but our OL's were big, physical, mean and nasty while he was here. During those years, Fulmer would usually have two stud recruiters and everybody else just coasted. During the last 90's it was Ramsey and Garner who brought in the talent.

UT's downfall was Fulmer not reacting to the way football was changing in the SEC and thinking he could do it the way it was always done.
 
#25
#25
So we are finally leaving the Kiffin discussions and now we are bringing Fulmer back up? Let it go people! Good grief. We had unparalled success with the program with Fulmer during the 90's and the program declined during the 2000's. Agreed....agreed. It was time for him to go. Now can we focus on the new staff and players and move forward.
 
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