Former Vols OC Mike DeBord explains Tennessee exit
When reports surfaced that former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich was at Tennessee’s Music City Bowl practice, it led fans to speculate about Mike DeBord’s future at Rocky Top.
When it was announced that DeBord was leaving for Indiana, many assumed that the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach had been forced out and told to look for another job. DeBord told Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyams that wasn’t the case, saying he originally told coach Butch Jones before the bowl game that he planned to retire game. After the Music City Bowl (Dec. 30), however, the Indiana offensive coordinator position came open (Jan. 1) and presented the Muncie, Ind. native an opportunity to return closer to home.
DeBord, 60, spent the last two seasons at Tennessee coaching alongside Jones, his former protege. Jones recently interviewed former Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke for the role of quarterback coach and is reportedly also considering former Miami QB Ken Dorsey for that position. Current Vols assistants Larry Scott and Zach Azzani are considered candidates to be the next offensive coordinator.
Man it doesn’t matter now. Butch is going to promote from within, giving a built in reason to fire him when the O stalls. Going to be rough next year.
Stall like this year? Setting the all time scoring record for UT?
You don’t get to reference stats like this when you still managed to lose 4 games, two of which were against cellar-dwellers with the SEC East title on the line.
Yes they scored a ton of points but given that 248 of them were in the weak 5 game stretch after the first half of the year, (and again, we lost 2 of these games.)
This was an offense that COULD’VE been one of the most entertaining and dynamic units in the country considering the ingredients, but most times looked halting and, dare I say, discombobulated.
And you can lay all of that right at the feet of DeBord; the man for some ungodly reason, decided he didn’t need a quarterback coach when you’re working with a player like Dobbs who clearly would have benefited by having one.
He managed to alienate one of the best players on the team–notwithstanding Hurd’s departure, he was underutilized and did what he thought was best for himself–and also bungled the use of Kamara as well.
It’ll be nice when we get a coach who can, you know, COACH. Until then, we have to listen to apologists digging up every damned excuse in the world for our MAC Coach and his Merry Band of Jackasses.
Yeah ur right. Stat wise one the best UT offenses, but could have been even more productive. There was bad playcalls at inopportune times, and 2-3 just bad games which IMO is on play calling.
You quickly forget that all time scoring record was Dobbs, Kamara, Malone, and yes Hurd. Deboard play a small part in this. Anyone that watched Dobbs knows Dobbs did most all of this own his own. How many sacks did he spin out of only to run for a TD? Was that Deboard or Dobbs? How many 1st downs were made because Dobbs made a play because the play that was called wasnt there? Its like saying Mike Tyson was great because of Don King.
Agreed.
Defense was the issue this year. With the exception of Alabama, the offense was better than I’ve seen in years.
Not as good as Fulmer! He put 70 on everyone.
Thank god he’s gone.
$1,000 says Butch will screw up any hire he makes this year. He needs to move back to the MAC where he came from.
Second that.