Josh Heupel reportedly parts ways with key member of Tennessee football staff
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Josh Heupel is looking for a new strength coach at Tennessee for the 2026 season after not renewing the expiring contract of Kurt Schmidt.
A Tennessee program official told GoVols247 of the Volunteers’ decision on Thursday, after VolQuest first reported that Schmidt wouldn’t be back with Josh Heupel‘s staff for next season. Schmidt and Heupel have a long history together, with the former serving as Heupel’s strength and conditioning coach going back to Heupel’s first season at UCF in 2018.
Schmidt reunited with Heupel in Knoxville when Heupel got the Tennessee job in 2021. But after getting a 1-year extension a year ago, Schmidt’s deal had expired and now it appears he won’t be returning to the program next season.
Schmidt will not receive any buyout money, with his contract expiring at the end of January. His reported departure from Knoxville continues Heupel’s overhaul after a disappointing 8-5 campaign in 2025.
The Vols will also have a new defensive coordinator next season with the hiring of Jim Knowles, who will replace longtime Tennessee DC Tim Banks. According to Thursday’s report, more changes are expected very soon to the Volunteers’ defensive staff.
Heupel first came into contact with Schmidt in 2017 at Mizzou, where Heupel was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the time.
For the first time in a long time this coming fall, Heupel and Schmidt reportedly won’t be together on the same staff, proof that Tennessee is out to make major changes in the hopes of not repeating the 5-loss season it just finished.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
