Tennessee Vols Coaching Search: Updated Hot Board

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FORT WORTH, TX – OCTOBER 07: Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs looks on as the TCU Horned Frogs prepare to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Gary Patterson — TCU Head Coach

This should be the Vols’ top option.

I’m not sure there’s a coach that’s done more with less than Gary Patterson.

And he’s told the media a couple of times this season that he’d at least be willing to listen to other programs’ pitches, while maintaining that he loves his life at TCU.

It’s probably a longshot to think that Patterson would leave TCU, but going to Tennessee would be a great option for him. He could land better talent at Tennessee, and be able to field a team that would compete with Nick Saban’s Alabama teams on an annual basis.

Patterson is the the definition of a home run hire.

He currently makes $5.1 million a year, so it would take at least $7-8 million to sway him to Rocky Top.

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