Ive been a long time visitor of Vol Nation, but not someone who posts. However, I do have access to small bits of information surrounding the program that may be of interest. What I can tell you is Currie is meeting with an outside advisory group next week to go through a list of their names and recommendations. The firm hes meeting with advises colleges all over the country when a change is needed. They were utilized the last time Tennessee had an opening and advised the AD/BOT to not hire Butch, but they went against their recommendation. Who knows what will happen this time around.
I did see the early list of candidates. Obviously things can change, but their recommendation is to not go with a defensive coordinator like Venables. Their information shows there is a much greater chance that an offensive minded coach will succeed. I brought up Kirby Smart and his early success, and his counter was UGA went 8-5 his first year and they have 10 or 11 defensive starters on this years team that will be playing in the NFL or will graduate. Plus, they lose Chubb and Michel. He said that outside of Saban and Stoops, the success rate for defensive head coaches is far less certain than an offensive minded coach.
He said the names to watch are Jeff Brohm and Chad Morris. He said the first call will and should be to Chip Kelly, but its a known fact that Chip is not a huge fan of passionate fanbases where roadshows, alumni & booster clubs meet and greets are the norm. Kelly will be more apt to take a job at UCLA if its available than Tennessee. Fuente, Patterson, Peterson are highly unlikely to leave their schools. He thinks Scott Frost needs more time. There are some mid-major coaches he likes like the coach at Troy, but that is not the splash UT is looking for.
