Last week, Tennessee football hired two assistant coaches. How did you respond?
I assume you were thrilled to hear the news.
When it comes to changes in their favorite show, fans are usually upbeat. Furthermore, in Josh Heupel’s three seasons as Tennessee’s football coach, the team hasn’t seen many changes. Heupel therefore had a chance to improve his staff when the coaches of his linebackers and running backs decided to go on.
Perhaps he did. However, how are you to know?
Head coach evaluation is simple. The victory-loss record is unambiguous. Although much easier, ranking coordinators is more difficult than ranking position coaches. Stats are very important to an offensive coordinator. It’s possible that yards and points per game aren’t the best indicators as a head
It can be foolish, nevertheless, to link position coaches with stats. If you have a strong group of blockers ahead of your fearsome running backs, your rushing stats should skyrocket.
Furthermore, playing running back is such an innate position. How does one train an outstanding running back? Presenting the ball to him, you indicate the opponent’s goal line and maybe say, “Hold it high and tight.”
Jerry Mack, a seasoned running backs coach, recently left Tennessee. De’Rail Sims was hired in his place. Like most assistant coaches, they are both nomads.
In 2004 as a graduate student, Mack was hired as an assistant coach for the first time. He has remained at a job ever since, with the exception of a three-year stint as North Carolina Central’s head coach.
Do not misunderstand. I’m only pointing out assistant coaches’ errant behavior; I’m not passing judgment. They don’t advance by remaining steadfast. Usually, in order to advance, they must move.
Their style is similar to sports journalism. Because the News Sentinel gives me an absurdly high income and more vacation time than I can utilize, I have worked there for 37 years. For five years, I also wrote sports columns in Baton Rouge. However, I spent 13.8 months on average working for six different daily newspapers.
I therefore consider assistant coaches to be kindred spirits and wish them success in their professional endeavors. Just don’t ask me to assess them, please.
Think about all the many assistant coaches that the former Alabama coach has.
