Josh Heupel, Tennessee Agree to Contract Extension After 2024 CFP Appearance

The Tennessee Volunteers extended the contract of head football coach Josh Heupel through Jan. 2030, the school announced Tuesday.

"The revival of our football program under Josh's leadership has made everyone in Big Orange Country proud to be a Vol,"  chancellor/director of athletics Danny White said in a statement. "Josh has brought Tennessee Football back to its rightful place among the nation's elite programs, and he and his staff have fostered a positive culture within the team. Our commitment to supporting Josh and his staff remains strong and unwavering."

Heupel has led Tennessee to a 37-15 record since taking over as head coach in 2021, leading the team to three bowl games and an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season. While the Volunteers fell to eventual champions Ohio State in the first round, 42-17, it was the second time in Heupel's tenure that the team finished ranked as a top-10 team in the final Associated Press poll.

Before Heupel, the Volunteers registered four straight losing seasons (though all wins in the 2019 and 2020 seasons were vacated due to NCAA violations for using ineligible players).

And after Phillip Fulmer's successful tenure in the 1990s and 2000s, Tennessee bounced between a number of coaches (Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt) before hiring Heupel after his successful three-year run for UFC. It has proven to be a smart hire.

"We took over a program in 2021 during a turbulent time. We quickly built a resilient, player-driven culture and have enjoyed great success on and off the field, but there is still much left to do," Heupel said in a statement. "I am excited about the future of Tennessee Football, and I can't wait to run through the T once again with Vol Nation proudly supporting us."