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Kevin Steele Shouldn’t Be On Tennessee Vols’ Short List

By Zach Ragan

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele of the Auburn Tigers prior to the game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele of the Auburn Tigers prior to the game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Aurbun Tigers defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is reportedly a candidate to be the Tennessee Vols’ next head coach.

I think it’s great that Phillip Fulmer, who is now leading the Tennessee Vols’ coaching search, is doing his due diligence and talking to a lot of folks.

But I’m hoping that Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, a former UT player and assistant coach, isn’t a serious candidate to replace Butch Jones.

Steele, who will turn 60 next spring, has only been a head coach once in his career (Baylor from 1999-2002) and it was a complete disaster. Steele has been a defensive coordinator at Florida State, Clemson and LSU. He was fired from Clemson in early 2012 after his defense gave up 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.

According to several reports, Fulmer interviewed Steele in Georgia after the SEC championship game this past weekend. There is a chance, however, that Fulmer was talking to Steele about returning to Knoxville as a defensive coordinator. If you’re a Vol fan, you have to hope this is why he was interviewed.

It just doesn’t make any sense for Steele be a legitimate candidate. If you’re going to hire someone who is nearly 60 years old, you might as well hire Les Miles.

At least Miles has been successful as a head coach. Neither Steele or Miles are long term answers, but Miles is the better option and it’s not even close.

Again, the hope here is that Fulmer is talking to Steele about returning to Rocky Top as an assistant coach. If Tennessee could land him as a defensive coordinator, I think it would be a good move.

Next: The Best Option For The Vols In 2018 And Beyond

But if the Vols hire Steele as the program’s new head coach, you best get ready for some 5-7 or 6-6 seasons. I don’t see Steele’s ceiling being much higher than that.

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