Tennessee Vols: Revised List Of Potential Replacements For Butch Jones

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers leads his team onto the field before the game against the Middle Tennessee Raiders on September 16, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

P.J. Fleck

Head coach at Minnesota

Putting together this list has me all aboard the PJ Fleck train.

Honestly, this is probably the guy Tennessee should throw all their money at. It’s not like Fleck is a can’t miss coach, but he’s a promising up and comer that has the looks of a potential elite coach.

Fleck is young — he turns 37 in November. And he took his first head coaching job, at Western Michigan, when he was only 32. He went 1-11 in his first season as a head coach. But he quickly turned it around in year two, going 8-5 in consecutive seasons. He then led Western Michigan to a 13-1 record in 2016, which resulted in Fleck being hired at Minnesota.

In 2017, Fleck is off to a 3-0 start with the Gophers. If he wins eight or so games there this season, he’ll be a hot name in the coaching carousel.

Oh, and just in case you’re not familiar with Fleck’s personality.

By the way, you might wonder if Fleck would leave Minnesota after just one year to take the job at Tennessee.

Well, Fleck was hired as Northern Illinois’ offensive coordinator in 2012. One day later, he departed Northern Illinois to become the wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I’d say he knows a good opportunity when he sees one.

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