According to multiple reports, Heupel
accepted the position with the Volunteers from new athletic director Danny White, who hired Heupel at UCF. Heupel had not officially resigned from UCF as of Wednesday.
The news shifts the narrative in Knoxville, Tenn., where the program has been mired in controversy for weeks. Jeremy Pruitt was fired for cause Jan. 18 following an investigation summarized by university chancellor Donde Plowman as “serious violations of NCAA rules.”
After Philip Fulmer was sacked in 2008, the Volunteers hired six other coaches, including Heupel.
White was hired as Tennessee’s athletic director last week, and he used a search agency to conduct many interviews over five days.
White met with Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell, and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck to discuss the job. Heupel, 42, takes over after three seasons at UCF, where he succeeded Scott Frost (Nebraska).
The former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up finished 28-8 at UCF.
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