As Tennessee embarks on its fourth coaching search in ten years, here’s a quick look at Vols coaching candidate Charlie Strong.
Charlie Strong coaching experience (57 years old)
He enjoyed a strong tenure as Louisville’s coach from 2010-13 before being hired at Texas, which was a nightmare experience. He was never a fit there, and after replacing Willie Taggart at South Florida, he has the Bulls with just one loss. He was an assistant at Florida, Texas A&M, Southern Illinois, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He made a name for himself as the Gators defensive coordinator, and that’s how he got his head coaching gig.
GRT taxonomy of college football coaches: The Proven Winner, Level Three – Major Conference Contender (although there has been some mixed success at Level Three)
Why the Tennessee Vols might want Charlie Strong
At one point, he was going to be the fit in Knoxville, but it fell through. There are varying reports on how and why it fell through, but all reports are that he was very close to being Tennessee’s head coach the last time around. Would you go after him again if you’re John Currie? It’s almost a certainty he could coach up a defensive-minded team and use his south Florida ties to recruit well. He knows the SEC as well as anybody.
Why the Tennessee Vols might not want Charlie Strong
That checkered history with the Vols will not help his cause. And when he got his opportunity to coach a big program, he blew it in Austin. Strong has struggled in building consistent offensive programs who can produce enough points to be successful. Which coach would show up? The one at Louisville or the one at Texas? I think it would be tough to go in this direction.