By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones had parted ways with defensive coordinator John Jancek. It’s a shocking move by Jones as no one saw this one coming.
Jones will now begin a search to find a new defensive coordinator.
“John and I had a long discussion this morning and we both came to the conclusion that it was best to part ways,” Jones said in a statement by Tennessee. “I want to thank Coach Jancek for his contributions to the University of Tennessee football program the past three years. “His hard work and dedication to this program played a major role in our back-to-back bowl wins. These decisions are never easy especially for someone I have worked with at three different schools. We feel strongly about the direction our program is headed and will work diligently to find the best person available to lead our defense.”
He has been with the Vols since the 2013 season. Prior to arriving at Tennessee, he coached with the Georgia Bulldogs under former head coach Mark Richt.
It’ll be interesting to see if he joins Richt with the Miami Hurricanes. He could also the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who seeking a defensive coordinator since Manny Diaz joined Richt’s staff.
This season, the Vols scoring defense was 16th in the nation. They were also 45th nationally in rushing defense and 47th in passing defense.
On New Year’s Day, his defense held the Northwestern Wildcats offense to just six points as they won the Outback Bowl 45-6.
His defense, though, struggled against up-tempo offenses. Those offenses didn’t slow Jancek to give the defense much rest.
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