KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — One of the SEC’s adopted football figures did not actually play in the SEC, but his alma mater is now a member of the prestigious conference.

Jim Leavitt played safety for Missouri from 1974-1977. From his time in Columbia to now, winning is part of Leavitt’s pedigree. Wins over Bear Bryant’s 1975 Alabama team and Woody Hayes’ 1976 Ohio State team headlined his playing days for the Tigers.

He transitioned to coaching, and became South Florida’s first head coach in 1996. He won even as a start-up program. Part of Leavitt’s solution in producing a 95-57 record, 3-2 in bowl games and becoming nationally ranked following wins over the likes of Auburn and West Virginia was surrounding himself with good assistant coaches.

Now, Leavitt, has ties and a strong analysis of two coaches playing new roles on Butch Jones’ staff at Tennessee. Mike Canales spent eight seasons under Leavitt at South Florida and has been hired as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. Larry Scott played offensive tackle from 1996-1999 at South Florida in Canales’ offensive system with Leavitt as head coach. Scott also became a graduate assistant, tight ends and offensive line coach for Leavitt from 2006-2009.

“When I first took the job at South Florida, I visited with LaVell Edwards and asked him who would be good to have run an offense like yours,” Leavitt, the newly hired Oregon defensive coordinator, told Saturday Down South. “He said Mike Canales, so I hired Mike as our offensive coordinator.

“Mike eventually left for North Carolina State as we couldn’t pay him that much money. I eventually hired him back as wide receivers coach after being with the New York Jets and the University of Arizona, then eventually promoted Mike back to offensive coordinator in 2009.”

Jones sees the same in Canales. On top of bringing 23 years of experience as an offensive coordinator – headlined by coaching Philip Rivers at N.C. State – Canales also brings a recruiting presence to Tennessee.

Play-calling, recruiting and developing players are what make him a well-rounded coach in Leavitt’s eyes. “He’s a tremendous recruiter, gets along with everyone and is very knowledgeable of quarterback play and that is his passion,” he said. “He’s coached at the highest level and it was a good hire for Larry and Butch.”

Getting the right coaches in place for Scott as he takes over the reign of offensive coordinator is crucial. Bringing in Canales to teach the quarterback position along with settling Walt Wells in as offensive line coach will help Scott quickly become comfortable in coordinating the offense. Wells also has South Florida ties as he coached the offensive line and was offensive coordinator for the Bulls in 2013 under Leavitt’s new head coach at Oregon, Willie Taggart. Leavitt also replaces Brady Hoke at Oregon; Jones hired Hoke this offseason as the Vols’ defensive line coach.

“Larry is very knowledgeable and will work extremely hard, players are going to want to play for him,” Leavitt said. “He has earned the right for the opportunity, he knows what it is like to be a servant which is what you have to learn to be a leader. He will certainly draw upon all of the wisdom and energy in the room.”

Jones has mentioned that it is vital to maintain continuity on offense and to keep building on what has been established the past four seasons. Leavitt sees Jones mandating certain things to ensure continuity.

“Butch is an offensive coach, so certainly Butch will mandate certain things and Larry will be a great listener and do a thorough job in making decisions with the offensive coaches,” Leavitt said.

“I’ve known Butch since he was at West Virginia, I think he has made some really great hires. I think the hires with Larry and Mike were thorough throughout the process, well thought out and I think he made some good decisions.”

After two consecutive seasons in which Tennessee challenged for the East title but fell short, Year 5 is critical for Jones’ tenure.

Leavitt understands that in the SEC, time is never part of the equation and results are part of how you are graded.

“In the SEC, you don’t have time,” he said. “You have to be great right now and they understand that. It’s Tennessee, there is no learning curve.”