Every coach rumoredly tied to the Tennessee job since 2008

On November 3rd, 2008, embattled Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer announced he’d be stepping down at the end of that season. Since that press conference, the Volunteers have conducted four searches for a new head coach, and they’re about to embark on search number five.

Rather than speculate blindly about who might be next in Knoxville – you should feel free to do that, though Dan Patrick’s already got a head start on you – I decided to provide a public service and catalog every coach who’s been connected to the Tennessee job since Fulmer stepped down the first time. Some of the people on this list got further down the road than others. All of them, at a minimum, fell into the “reportedly drawing interest” category, so this isn’t just a list of coaches people outside the program have proposed.

Here’s the list in alphabetical order by last name, with the year(s) of the relevant coaching search where that coach’s name popped up:

• Jeff Brohm (2017)
• Troy Calhoun (2010)
• Bill Cowher (2008)
• David Cutcliffe (2008, 2010, 2012, 2017)
• Butch Davis (2008)
• Dave Doeren (2017)
• Randy Edsall (2010)
• Larry Fedora (2012)
• Scott Frost (2017)
• Jon Gruden (2008, 2010, 2012, 2017)
• Mike Gundy (2012, 2017)
• Brian Kelly (2008)
• Chip Kelly (2017)
• Mike Leach (2008, 2017)
• Les Miles (2017)
• Dan Mullen (2017)
• Will Muschamp (2008, 2010)
• Mike Norvell (2017)
• Chris Petersen (2017)
• Greg Roman (2012)
• Greg Schiano (2017)
• Lovie Smith (2010)
• Charlie Strong (2012)
• Kevin Sumlin (2010, 2017)
• Kyle Whittingham (2010)