Tennessee Fans Are Confused And Skeptical Over New Contract Extension For Head Coach Josh Heupel

Things are looking up for the Tennessee Volunteers. That’s in part because there was only one way for things to look after recent years. But also in part because of second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols are long past their glory days under coaching Phillip Fulmer. Since Fulmer’s retirement in 2008, Tennesee has had just six winning seasons.

They’ve not won 10 games since 2007 and it’s been since 2004 since the Volunteers last appeared in the SEC Championship Game.

But now, with Heupel at the helm and NIL playing its part, Tennessee finally looks to be back on the right track.

The Volunteers went just 7-6 in their first year under Heupel. But they’re 2-0 in the young 2022 season and ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll after a thrilling 34-27 overtime win over Pitt in week two.

Now Heupel it appears those in charge are ready to reward Heupel for his good work. But fans are a little gun-shy.

Tennessee Fans Can’t Understand Why Josh Heupel Is Already Getting An Extension

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Friday morning that Heupel agreed to a new deal with the Vols that pays him over $5 million per year.

The deal also involved raises for both offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and defensive coordinator Tim Banks. Though Hubbs also reports that Heupel’s new deal leaves him as “roughly” the SEC’s 11th highest-paid coach.

Vols fans were immediately wary of the new deal.

The concern is understandable when you look at Tennessee’s coaching history after Fulmer. Lane Kiffin took the job for one year before bolting for USC. Derek Dolley then took the helm for threes season before being fired.

Butch Jones followed Dooley and appeared to right the ship. Jones went 9-4 in both his third and fourth seasons (2015, 2016) before a 4-6 start to 2017 saw him follow Dooley out the door.

Jones’ replacement Jeremy Pruitt was no better. Pruitt had just one winning season in three years with the Vols and was fired in 2020 after an embarrassing 3-7 record.

Things on ol’ Rocky Top look to be back in order under Heupel, but fans clearly have their guard up after being tricked one too many times.

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