Fulmer Begins Search for Offensive Coordinator

One thing the University of Tennessee has had under the tenure of Phillip Fulmer is stability.

You don’t see many coaching changes among Volunteer coordinators, and usually those who leave are moving up the ladder of the coaching ranks. 

Keeping with that tradition, Duke hired David Cutcliffe as their new head football coach on December 14th. A great hire for Duke, Cutcliffe brings a vast knowledge of football to Durham—and plenty of coaching experience, both of which Peyton Manning can attest to.

With Cutcliffe’s departure, wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor was expected to be in the race for the offensive coordinator’s job at Tennessee.  However, Fulmer wants experience at the position, something Taylor does not have, and with an offer on the table from Oklahoma State to be their next co-offensive coordinator, Taylor left for Stillwater.

Running backs coach Kurt Roper and tight ends coach Matt Luke are likely to accompany Cutcliffe to Duke, so Fulmer is expected to completely re-tool his offensive staff.  But where does the search begin?

There are a lot of names out there with ties to Tennessee, and Fulmer has already stated publicly that he is going to take his time and look down every possible avenue.  Let’s take a look at the short list:

Doug Marrone

Doug Marrone is the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints. He was the tight ends and tackles coach for Tennessee in 2001, and would have to be at the top of the list for Fulmer.

Marrone’s Saints put up record numbers in 2006, and given his past relationship with Fulmer, you would have to assume that Coach Marrone will be getting a call.

Kippy Brown

Kippy Brown is the wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions, and is the fan favorite to become the next offensive play-caller in Knoxville. Brown served as the receivers coach at UT from '83 to '89,  where he led such superstars as Carl Pickens and Alvin Harper, and put Tennessee on the map as Wide Receiver U. Brown also held the same position in '93 and '94. 

Brown has a knack for getting the most out of his receivers, and considering the young talent Tennessee has, it would seem like a perfect fit. His NFL experience doesn’t hurt either.

Rob Spence

Spence holds the offensive coordinator title at Clemson, and is the first candidate Fulmer has met with thus far. Spence’s reputation speaks for itself, as Clemson was just one of four schools to put up over 2,500 yards rushing and passing in 2006.

Spence is also a quarterback guru, and would seem like the perfect replacement for Coach Cutcliffe.  Spence would have to be seen as the leading candidate right now, simply because of the fact that he’s the only one who’s been in Knoxville to interview.

Mike Locksley

Coach Locksley is currently the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois. Aside from having probably the best-looking wife of the bunch, he is also the best recruiter of the bunch.

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