SBNation.com - Tennessee DC Hunt Ends With Alabama OLB Coach Sal Sunserihttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2012-01-16T10:36:14-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24432752012-01-16T10:36:14-05:002012-01-16T10:36:14-05:00Tennessee, Alabama May Keep Trading Coaches Until The End Of Time
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<p>Defensive line coach <a href="http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2012/jan/15/lance-thompson-appears-headed-back-to-alabama/">Lance Thompson heads from Tennessee to Alabama</a> to replace departing outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri, who took over the Tennessee defense last week. This can go on as long as it needs to.</p>↵
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/16/2710865/tennessee-alabama-may-keep-trading-coaches-until-the-end-of-timeJason Kirk2012-01-13T13:40:45-05:002012-01-13T13:40:45-05:00Sal Sunseri's Tennessee Deal Near SEC's Biggest, Vinnie Sunseri Staying At Alabama
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a> have officially announced the hire of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri as their new defensive coordinator. He takes over for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox">Justin Wilcox</a>, who was hired away by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a>. Said coach Derek Dooley of Sunseri:</p>
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<p>Sal has had unparalleled success over the last decade in not only contributing to team and unit success, but also in his ability to motivate and develop elite individual talent. His combination of defensive knowledge, recruiting success, high-energy personality, ability to connect with players, and personal integrity and character make him an exceptional fit for Tennessee.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/01/report_sal_sunseri_poised_to_b.html">According to reports</a>, his salary will net him $2.4 million over three years, placing him <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/tennessee-raids-alabama-little-touch-saban-defense-145730736.html">among the SEC's most well-compensated</a> defensive coordinators.</p>
<p>The good news for Tide fans: safety <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri">Vinnie Sunseri</a> reportedly doesn't plan to switch Third Saturday in October allegiances along with his father. Sunseri the swifter is expected to contribute heavily to Alabama's title defense campaign.</p>
<p><i>For more on the parties involved, visit <a href="http://rockytoptalk.com/">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk</a> and <a href="http://rollbamaroll.com/">Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/13/2705106/sal-sunseri-contract-tennessee-vinnie-sunseri-transferJason Kirk2012-01-13T10:44:37-05:002012-01-13T10:44:37-05:00Sal Sunseri To Be Next Tennessee Defensive Coordinator, According To Report
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers" class="sbn-auto-link">Tennessee Volunteers</a> have finally gotten a bit of stability in the ranks, according to a report. Austin Ward of the Knoxville News Sentinel reports the Vols have hired <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide" class="sbn-auto-link">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri to be their next defensive coordinator, replacing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Wilcox</a>, who left for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Vols_Beat"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/396769932/09022009austinward_normal.jpg" alt="Austin Ward" data-user-id="71083492"></a><a data-user-id="71083492" href="http://twitter.com/#!/Vols_Beat" title="Austin Ward">@Vols_Beat</a> According to a UT source, Alabama outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri is the new defensive coordinator for the Vols.</p>
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<p>The move <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2012/1/11/2699117/will-sal-sunseri-be-tennessees-next-defensive-coordinator">isn't a surprise</a>, if true.</p>
<p>At Alabama in 2011, Sunseri coached part of one of the best defenses in college football history. Well, part of three pretty great defenses in a row, actually.</p>
<p>Before joining Bama in 2009, Sunseri coached with the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Carolina Panthers</a> for seven years, preceded by stints with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a>. He has three years of defensive coordinator experience, two at Alabama A&M and one at Illinois State. He also spent one year and one game as a head coach in the early '90s.</p>
<p>His son <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri" class="sbn-auto-link">Vinnie Sunseri</a> plays for the Tide and is expected to move into a starting role next year, so there's a story line for you.</p>
<p><i>For more on the parties involved, visit <a href="http://rockytoptalk.com/">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk</a> and <a href="http://rollbamaroll.com/">Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/13/2704684/sal-sunseri-tennessee-defensive-coordinatorJason Kirk2012-01-12T09:23:23-05:002012-01-12T09:23:23-05:00Buddy Green The Next Tennessee Defensive Coordinator Candidate
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<p>Another day, another name for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a> defensive coordinator job. The latest is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/navy-midshipmen">Navy Midshipmen</a> defensive coordinator Buddy Green, who's interviewing on Thursday <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/navy-defensive-coordinator-buddy-green-scheduled-to-interview-with-tennessee/2012/01/11/gIQAFAtJrP_story.html">according to the Washington Post's Gene Wang</a>.</p>
<p>Twice nominated for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach, Green's been at Navy for 10 years. He has experience in Tennessee, having been the head coach at UT-Chattanooga for six years, along with experience in the southeast at Auburn and his alma mater, N.C. State.</p>
<p>In the past five years, Navy's ranked as high as No. 34 in total defense (but as low as No. 99). In 2011, they ranked No. 86. Hard to gauge what that means, of course, since an entirely different sort of athlete chooses to attend Navy as opposed to SEC schools.</p>
<p>Green would follow Alabama's Sal Sunseri, former Miami coach Randy Shannon and former Illinois coach Ron Zook on the list of reported candidates to replace <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox">Justin Wilcox</a>, though Green does appear to be the furthest along in the process.</p>
<p><i>For more on the parties involved, visit <a href="http://rockytoptalk.com/">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/12/2701924/buddy-green-tennessee-defensive-coordinator-candidateJason Kirk2012-01-11T16:00:11-05:002012-01-11T16:00:11-05:00Sal Sunseri Is Tennessee's Top Defensive Coordinator Target, According To Reports
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<p>Now that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri is finally done with his 2011 work, it's time to ramp up <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2012/1/11/2699117/will-sal-sunseri-be-tennessees-next-defensive-coordinator">reports of the Tennessee Volunteers seeking his services</a>. The Vols lost defensive coordinator <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox">Justin Wilcox</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a>, and rumors of Randy Shannon and Ron Zook coming aboard never amounted to much.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2012/1/11/2699117/will-sal-sunseri-be-tennessees-next-defensive-coordinator">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk thinks</a> Sunseri might be the one:</p>
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<p>I'd say this is probably going to happen. We are too close to National Signing Day and too far from the resignation of Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon to make waiting any longer a viable option. Tennessee is expecting 8-10 official visitors (plus some unofficials) this weekend, and you'd think that having a coordinator hired would be a check mark on the right side of the ledger for those guys. </p>
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<p>Would he be willing to leave for the promotion? Sunseri's son <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri">Vinnie Sunseri</a>, a rising sophomore, plays defensive back for the Tide, but son <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a> plays quarterback for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/pittsburgh-panthers">Pittsburgh Panthers</a>, and you don't hear anybody saying he'll try to merge Alabama and Pitt into a single school so he can rally his many sons together onto one roster. He'd also have to convince Tino to play defense. Tino has much experience at dealing with sacks, so he might be good at linebacker. Who knows. I say all this to say he probably would be willing to accept a promotion at another school. Thanks for listening.</p>
<p>Before joining Bama in 2009, Sunseri coached with the Carolina Panthers for seven years, preceded by stints with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a>. He has three years of defensive coordinator experience, two at Alabama A&M and one at Illinois State. He also spent one year and one game as a head coach in the early '90s.</p>
<p><i>For more on the parties involved, visit <a href="http://rockytoptalk.com">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk</a> and <a href="http://rollbamaroll.com">Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/11/2700300/sal-sunseri-tennessee-defensive-coordinatorJason Kirk2012-01-09T12:21:25-05:002012-01-09T12:21:25-05:00Ron Zook Rumors Include Auburn, Tennessee Somehow
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<img alt="CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Ron Zook of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches as his team takes on the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-qcyt_Mzt6dDFMrCUGPWA_HikN0=/0x191:476x508/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4708237/132483501.jpg" />
<figcaption>CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Ron Zook of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches as his team takes on the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Could Tennessee or Auburn really be going after Ron Zook as defensive coordinator?</p> <p>You've heard by now that former <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" class="sbn-auto-link">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> head coach Ron Zook has emerged as a defensive coordinator candidate with both the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers" class="sbn-auto-link">Tennessee Volunteers</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers" class="sbn-auto-link">Auburn Tigers</a>. How this happened, you are not sure. Behold, the sources of these reports:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JimmyHyams"><img src="https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/1191230026/hyams2_normal.jpg" alt="Jimmy Hyams" data-user-id="189679739"></a><a data-user-id="189679739" href="https://twitter.com/#!/JimmyHyams" title="Jimmy Hyams">@JimmyHyams</a> UT has contacted former UT asst ron zook about DC job. Zook is former head coach at fla and illinois and has been successful DC. he'd listen</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/coachingsearch"><img src="https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/1634216364/PetePhoto4_normal.JPG" alt="Pete Roussel" data-user-id="389880635"></a><a data-user-id="389880635" href="https://twitter.com/#!/coachingsearch" title="Pete Roussel">@coachingsearch</a> Sources tell me that Gene Chizik has interest in former Illinois head coach Ron Zook for the defensive coordinator job.<a href="http://t.co/o72TBh2D" data-expanded-url="http://bit.ly/xpkQEX" title="http://bit.ly/xpkQEX" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">bit.ly/xpkQEX</a></p>
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<p>Hyams is a Knoxville sports radio personality, while Pete Roussell runs a coaching news website.</p>
<p>Not to say it couldn't happen, but if either of these comes to be, it's hard to imagine a positive reaction from the affected fan base. Zook flamed out as <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Gators</a> coach before crumbling at Illinois, leaving a dour reputation throughout the SEC. His DC experience includes stints with the Saints, Florida, Kansas and Cincinnati. He also coached defensive backs at Tennessee in the '80s.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/9/2694004/ron-zook-rumors-auburn-tennesseeJason Kirk2012-01-03T11:27:46-05:002012-01-03T11:27:46-05:00Randy Shannon Apparently Not Tennessee Defensive Coordinator
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<p>Despite receiving a welcome from at least one Tennessee player, Randy Shannon doesn't appear to be the next Vols defensive coordinator at the moment.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers" class="sbn-auto-link">Tennessee Volunteers</a> need a new defensive coordinator after losing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Wilcox</a> to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a>. The first reported candidate was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/miami-hurricanes" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Hurricanes</a> defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, and it wasn't entirely speculation that led to his name coming out.</p>
<p>For one thing, at least one Vols player (kicker <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116195/michael-palardy" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Palardy</a>) publicly (yes, even protected Twitter accounts count as public) welcomed Shannon aboard:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BarrettSallee"><img src="https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/1649074408/Headshot_small_normal.jpg" alt="Barrett Sallee" data-user-id="46260740"></a><a data-user-id="46260740" href="https://twitter.com/#!/BarrettSallee" title="Barrett Sallee">@BarrettSallee</a> Tennessee kicker...RT <a data-screen-name="mpalardy1" href="https://twitter.com/#!/mpalardy1" rel="nofollow"><s>@</s><b>mpalardy1</b></a>: Welcome coach randy shannon to the volunteer family! <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23VFL" title="#VFL" rel="nofollow"><s>#</s><b>VFL</b></a></p>
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<p>Seemed like a mighty quick turnaround, especially for a program with as much going on as Tennessee has. But coach Derek Dooley didn't introduce Shannon at <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2012/1/3/2679073/quick-hitter-notes-on-tennessee-volunteers-coach-derek-dooleys-press">Tuesday's press conference</a>, as some had presumed he might, and didn't mention any outstanding specific names as potential candidates.</p>
<p>Via Rocky Top Talk:</p>
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<p>He did acknowledge that he would act "the quicker the better" in hiring a defensive coordinator due to the sensitive time before signing day, etc., but he would "not compromise" in making that hire. He'll still go through the process of interviews, etc. He also said he didn't know the difference in discussions and "formal" discussions but indicated that he has had conversations with candidates. Dooley stated that "the most trying month of a head coach is January because coaches are free agents and recruits are free agents."</p>
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<p><i>For more on the Vols, visit <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/">Tennessee blog Rocky Top Talk</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/3/2679218/randy-shannon-tennessee-defensive-coordinatorJason Kirk2012-01-02T11:42:08-05:002012-01-02T11:42:08-05:00Washington Hires Coaches Justin Wilcox, Peter Sirmon From Tennessee
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<p>Washington has hired Tennessee defensive coaches Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers" class="sbn-auto-link">Tennessee Volunteers</a> defensive coordinator <a href="../../ncaa-football/players/134274/justin-wilcox" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Wilcox</a> and linebackers coach Peter Sirmon have agreed to join Steve Sarkisian's staff with the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a>, according to reports Monday.</p>
<p>They join the staff to replace defensive coordinator <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a href="../../ncaa-football/players/136476/nick-holt" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Holt</a></span>, linebackers coach Mike Cox, and secondary/safeties coach Jeff Mills who were all fired following the Alamo Bowl.</p>
<p>Before joining Tennessee in 2010, Wilcox served as the defensive coordinator at Boise State and as linebacker coach at Cal before that. Wilcox had been under consideration for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Gators</a> head coaching job last year.</p>
<p>Sirmon played linebacker for the Tennessee Titans for seven years before joining the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks" class="sbn-auto-link">Oregon Ducks</a> in 2009 as a graduate assistant. He came to Tennessee in 2010 as a grad assistant working under Wilcox and is considered one of the top recruiters in the south. He is a Washington native.</p>
<p>Wilcox and Sirmon were teammates at Oregon together during their playing days.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers" class="sbn-auto-link">Tennessee Volunteers</a>, visit <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/" target="_blank">Rocky Top Talk</a>. For more on the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a>, visit <a href="http://www.uwdawgpound.com/" target="_blank">UW Dawg Pound</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/2/2676612/washington-justin-wilcox-peter-sirmon-tennessee-coachesSean Keeley