This year’s search for a head coach at Tennessee is not one that will soon be forgotten.

The search by the Volunteers was a drawn-out affair that featured many rumors and a number of coaches who wound up turning down the job. It all started with the story that Tennessee and Ohio State DC Greg Schiano had agreed to terms on a deal.

Vols fans, and even a few legislators in Tennessee, reacted negatively to the reported deal which led to the deal eventually falling through. The Vols have since hired Jeremy Pruitt as head coach and are ready to move forward, but former UT QB Tee Martin said he initially thought that Schiano would have been a good hire for the school.

Bill Rabinowitz with The Columbus Dispatch shared Martin’s comments:

“It was a tough deal,” Martin said. “I have a lot of respect for Greg and what he’s done in his career as a football coach. When his name came up, I thought, ‘Wow, he’s a really good football coach.’ I thought it would have been a good fit.”

Martin also indicated that Tennessee did not ask him to interview for the job. When asked if he felt UT gave him a fair shake concerning the opening, Martin did say it was “debatable.”

With that being said, Martin reiterated that he enjoys serving as the OC at USC and believes it is one of the best jobs in the country:

“I feel I have the best job in America — other than being the head coach at USC — being the offensive coordinator at USC,” Martin said. “Whether it’s Tennessee or anywhere else, it has to be the right situation.”