New Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel did not hire two former Vols assistants, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and defensive coach Chris Weinke.
Heupel informed Chaney and Weinke on Friday morning that he would not keep them on the team, meaning that Chaney owes $ 1.7 million over the rest of his contract and Weinke $ 450,000. Both numbers can be reduced if one of the technicians accepts another job.
Kevin Steele, who was appointed interim head coach by the university chancellor Donde Plowman after Jeremy Pruitt’s resignation, currently remains on the team. Steele was hired as a defense assistant on January 12, less than a week before Pruitt was fired and while Phillip Fulmer was still Tennessee’s athletic director. Danny White was appointed athletic director for Tennessee on January 21.
Steele, who was the defensive coordinator at Auburn, owes Auburn $ 5 million for the contract he signed in January 2020, which at the time made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. His $ 5 million purchase in Auburn, however, was mitigated by the money Tennessee is paying him, meaning that he would have a $ 2.5 million cap this year and $ 2.5 million in following year, even if he hadn’t taken the job in Tennessee.
Coach Joe Osovet remains on the Tennessee team at this time. Osovet’s contract expires next January, and he is earning $ 250,000.
The recipients’ contract with coach Tee Martin ends on January 31 this year. Martin was Vols’ quarterback for a national championship in 1998 and is waiting to see if he gets a new contract from Heupel.
In addition to being at risk for the total $ 900,000 that Steele owes if he is not retained, Tennessee owes UCF the purchase of $ 2.5 million to withdraw White from his contract and owes UCF the purchase of $ 3.59 million to withdraw Heupel of his contract. Tennessee is paying Parker Executive Search Firm $ 120,000 to assist in the search for AD and another $ 120,000 to assist in the search for coaching.