Tennessee Football: New strength coach could be an inside hire

We’re now a couple of weeks removed from Tennessee football strength coach Craig Fitzgerald leaving the Vols, but his replacement could already be with the Vols.

We’re a little over two weeks removed from Tennessee football strength coach Craig Fitzgerald leaving the Vols and taking the same job with the New York Giants.

He served as the strength coach for two years in Knoxville, and it’s going to be hard to replace him, but it seems like head coach Jeremy Pruitt might already have his eye on someone to replace him.

Pruitt discussed Fitzgerald’s departure in a zoom conference call on Friday and looking for his potential replacement.

Pruitt talked about Fitzgerald having the opportunity to take many jobs before taking the Giants job. Most notably, he had the opportunity to “return home” to Maryland. The Terrapins almost got him, too, but Pruitt was able to keep him for a bit longer.

"“It’s something that I learned a long time ago, if you embrace the job that you have and you do a really good job at it, opportunities present themselves,” Pruitt said of Fitzgerald."

Now Pruitt and the Vols turn to find Fitzgerald’s replacement. Something that probably isn’t too easy with nearly everything shutting down.

Based on what Pruitt said in the same conference call, it sounds like Pruitt might have his eye on someone already.

"“We have really good support within the guys that are on strength staff right now,” Pruitt said. “They’re doing a fantastic job – they’re very motivated.“There will be a time soon that we’ll make the move with that position, just kind of going through talking to some folks out there and seeing what’s the best way that we can make that program better moving forward that fits my vision of where we want this program to be,” Pruitt continued."

Pruitt promoted the guys that are already on his staff. He said they’re doing “a fantastic job.” I think the Vols will take a hit with Fitzgerald leaving, but they might not take as big of a hit if there is someone that worked directly under or with Fitz that could replace him.

It seems like whatever Fitz and Pruitt have been doing, it has been working, so maybe there’s an inside hire that Pruitt is currently considering that can keep up what has been going on in the weight room.