Tennessee fans can exhale, Jeremy Pruitt’s program finally has its offensive coordinator.

After a long search that stretched well into Month 2, Tennessee has officially hired Jim Chaney to run the offense on Rocky Top. Chaney had been serving as Georgia’s offensive coordinator the previous three seasons for Kirby Smart in Athens.

“I’m thrilled to announce Jim Chaney as our offensive coordinator,” Pruitt said in an official release. “Jim couldn’t be a better fit for our program at the University of Tennessee. His track record of success guiding offenses speaks for itself from his time at Purdue with Drew Brees to his time in the NFL and his success in the SEC at Georgia, Arkansas, and, of course, previously with the Vols.

“What most impresses me about Jim is his knowledge of the game and also the way he has adapted his offenses to his players’ strengths. He’s had years where he has guided one of the nation’s top passing offenses and years where his offenses have been near the top in rushing. He could coach every position on offense and is a true teacher of the game.

“Jim has proven to be a great mentor for young men, and I’m excited to have him here at Tennessee.”

Under Chaney’s watch, Georgia finished second in the league in scoring in 2018 after finishing third in scoring in 2017. Chaney was instrumental in the development of quarterback Jake Fromm, who starred for the Bulldogs as a true freshman and sophomore the last two seasons. Chaney’s UGA offenses also featured two 1,000-yard rushers with four different players (Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017, D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield in 2018), a first in SEC history.

Of course, Chaney has previously served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator when he was hired by Lane Kiffin and kept on by Derek Dooley. In his final season in Knoxville, Tennessee finished with the league’s No. 4 scoring offense.

Chaney is also well known as the college coordinator of Drew Brees, he’s worked in the NFL as an assistant and was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas under Bret Bielema for two seasons.

(Photo credit Cassie Wright; UGA Athletics)