Tennessee HC Rumors: Volunteers Targeting Kevin Sumlin After Dave Doeren Snub

The Tennessee coaching-search carousel keeps on turning.    

According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com, the Volunteers plan to talk to former Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin about their coaching vacancy after one of their targets, Dave Doeren, inked a five-year contract extension to remain at N.C. State that will pay him $3 million per year.

"My family loves it here too much," Doeren told ESPN's Andrea Adelson. "I'm here because I love my players and my recruits."

Bruce Feldman of SI.com also reported that Sumlin could be a major target for the Volunteers: 

To say that Tennessee has made the rounds in its coaching search would be an understatement. On Wednesday, the team was linked to Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm. The Volunteers also reportedly contacted Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and Duke's David Cutcliffe about their coaching vacancy, with the latter two turning down the position.

Rumors have also linked the Volunteers to SMU head coach Chad Morris and USC offensive coordinator (and former Tennessee quarterback) Tee Martin to the job, per Feldman, while former NFL head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden has once again been mentioned in conjunction with the Vols.

Finally, former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano all but signed the contract to become Tennessee's next head coach before an impassioned and controversial protest from the program's supporters nixed that potential partnership.

While several programs finished focused coaching searches in a relatively short time frame—UCLA landed Chip Kelly, Florida brought aboard Dan Mullen and Arizona State hired Herm Edwards—Tennessee's search has been far more chaotic. 

As for Sumlin, the former Houston (2008-11) and Texas A&M (2012-17) head coach has an 86-43 record in his college career and has led his teams to seven bowl games. His experience coaching in the SEC and recruiting in the south are pluses for the Volunteers, as is his offensive acumen.