Reports: Tennessee has reached out to Tee Martin about possible return to Rocky Top
Multiple reports are suggesting that Tennessee has reached out to former quarterback Tee Martin for a position that’s yet-to-be determined at his alma mater.
The Southern Cal offensive coordinator, who led the Vols to the 1998 national title, helped the Trojans win the Pac-12 title this season.
New Athletics Director Phil Fulmer has reached out to his former player for possibly multiple positions, according to multiple reports. Martin could be targeted as an offensive coordinator position while simultaneously be a head coach-in-waiting, or he could be looked for the head coaching job from the outset.
Martin, 38, has been at USC for six years, first as wide receivers coach before he was named offensive coordinator at the end of the 2015 season. He previously spent 2010-11 as the wide receivers coach at Kentucky, where he was the passing game coordinator in 2011.
In 2016, USC was 20th nationally in total offense (477.1), as well as 11th in third down conversions (.478), 15th in first downs (322) and 25th in pass offense (276.4). This year, the Trojans are 15th in total offense (489.5) in the country, and 19th in passing offense (294).
A #Vols update: #Tennessee AD Phil Fulmer and #USC OC Tee Martin have had a talk and the conversation was very positive, I'm told.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 5, 2017
Correct. ? https://t.co/voZoHAfNVA
— Jayson Swain (@SwainEvent) December 5, 2017
Yes, Tee & Phil talked in the last 18 hours & Martin told him he’d be interested in a few different positions
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) December 5, 2017
Phillip Fulmer and Tee Martin spoke extensively by phone Tuesday morning, and sources close to Martin felt like it was a positive conversation moving in the right direction. Martin played under Fulmer and quarterbacked the Vols to the 1998 national championship.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 5, 2017
Something to remember about Tee Martin is that he has a great job at USC and loves living in LA. But he feels good about the talks he had with Fulmer and would always be open to returning to his alma mater, preferably as head coach, but maybe even as OC in the right situation.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 5, 2017