Tennessee names UCF's Heupel as next head coach

Less than two weeks after firing head coach Jeremy Pruitt and some assistants due to an alleged recruiting scandal, Tennessee has a new football coach. New athletic director Danny White announced that Central Florida's Josh Heupel will be the Vols' next head coach. White spent time as UCF's athletic director and hired Heupel in Orlando three years ago.

Heupel replaced Scott Frost- who left UCF to become the head coach at his alma mater, Nebraska, after a 13-0 season. The Knights have had continued success, compiling an overall 28-8 record with two 10+ win seasons and a New Year's Six bowl appearance.

Heupel has an offensive background as a former All-American quarterback at Oklahoma. After his playing career ended, he became a grad assistant for the Sooners and worked his way up to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He has also been the offensive coordinator at Utah State and Missouri before landing the head coach position at UCF.

UCF's offense has been electric over recent years. Since Heupel took over before the 2018 season, the Knight's offense has finished in the top eight in scoring each season. With some of the struggles Tennessee has had offensively, the innovation a hire like this could bring will be a welcome addition against the vaunted SEC defenses.