Tennessee coach absent from spring practice due to planned medical procedure, per report
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tennessee’s spring practice began on Monday as the Volunteers kicked off preparations for the 2026 season.
One of their position coaches will be missing, however.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who is headed into the sixth season of his second stint with the Vols, has undergone a “planned medical procedure,” according to the Knoxville News’ Adam Sparks. There is currently no timetable for Garner’s return, although he has been doing some work with the team despite his absence. In the meantime, LEOs coach Andrew “A.J.” Jackson will be the one primarily taking on Garner’s duties.
Garner has been with Tennessee since 2021. From 2013 to 2020, he was at Auburn, his alma mater, where he served as associate head coach and DL coach. That followed nearly a decade and a half at Georgia, starting out as DL coach and recruiting coordinator from 1998 to 2004 before being named an assistant head coach from 2005 to 2012.
After graduating from Auburn in 1990, Garner went straight into coaching, spending six seasons on the Tigers’ staff. He was then hired at Tennessee for the first time in 1996 under Phillip Fulmer. Garner initially coached tight ends in 1996 before adding offensive tackles to his duties in 1997.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
