Report: Strong turns down Tennessee job

Does anybody want to coach Tennessee?

The Vols’ search for a head coach will continue as Louisville’s Charlie Strong has reportedly become the latest coach to turn down an offer to succeed Derek Dooley.

Sports Illustrated, citing an anonymous source, is reporting that Louisville and Strong are working on a contract extension that could be announced as early as Thursday.

“It was Charlie’s desire to end this constant speculation and re-commit long-term to Louisville,” the source was quoted as saying.

Strong, the former Florida defensive coordinator, took over the Cardinals program in 2010 and led them to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Sugar Bowl against Florida this year.

On Wednesday it was reported that Tennessee offered the job to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, but Gundy also turned the job down. Earlier speculation had centered on former NFL coach Jon Gruden, but Gruden also said he had no interest in the job.

Tennessee is the last of four SEC schools to fill its coaching vacancy. Kentucky hired Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, Auburn hired Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn, and Arkansas hired Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema.

The Vols fired Dooley in November after three years on the job. Dooley was 15-21 overall and 4-7 this year. Other names being mentioned for the job include former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis, current North Carolina coach Larry Fedora and fired Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

111 comments Add your comment

CC

December 6th, 2012
9:44 am

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Cobb Dawg

December 6th, 2012
9:54 am

I think Strong could see the writing on the wall. Tee Martin won a NC for them, yet they ignore him in favor of Peyton Manning, who they named a street after. Sorry Tee!

Roadster

December 6th, 2012
9:58 am

Yep and Gundy from OK State also turned them down. Too funny! Volunteers are so full of themselves. Dooley will look good to them soon.

zeke

December 6th, 2012
10:01 am

I think C. Strong has another job in mind, maybe 4 to 6 years in the future!!

joet

December 6th, 2012
10:19 am

UT won a National Champion ship in ‘98. When did UGA last win one? Talk about irrelevant.

GimmeAbreak

December 6th, 2012
10:24 am

I think you mean Erin Andrews, DawgBalls

Roadster

December 6th, 2012
10:43 am

Ha! Eat crap rocky toppers. V

Paddy

December 6th, 2012
10:54 am

Panther Dawg…….if Petrino was on the Vol’s short list, he would have been named coach by now! He didn’t make anybody’s list no matter how long that list was!

ANTI- VOLUNTIER

December 6th, 2012
1:30 pm

Heard Bob Costa was looking for a job. Maybe he could run the Shotgun with out any hand guns in Knoxville.

Vol Gentleman

December 6th, 2012
2:06 pm

I love all the VOL haters that post here. We are struggling and yes our previous AD was a joke for firing Fulmer for his own personal ego. Kiffin was the laughing stock of the SEC and we admit it by naming a sexage center after him (smile). Yes we have some bad apples on the team that throw beer cans at cars. Yes we have not won a national championship since 98…. As a university that is proud of our traditions. Facilities that will always be the standards other universities strive to reach. Traditions that many teams have copied over the years….. I know we will rise again and when that day comes I will enjoy my ice tea and saturdays in the fall once again, yet I will not bad mouth other universaties going through trials and tribulations. Soon UGA will be once again be an average team and I will have only good will in my heart for them. I will of course enjoy winning once again and spending the first week in December at the dome cheering for a university that will always do things the correct way once again. The past 4 years have weighed its toll on all of the Big Orange nation, yet we always step up and support our University. GO VOLS!!

GB's Hamburgers

December 6th, 2012
10:04 pm

They need to hunt down Morgan Hout. He is truly a miracle worker. He came to Liberty from Maryland just after a hurricane had washed away the football complex. In his second year he was coach of the year in Virginia. He introduced the hurry-up offense. He put more players in the pros than did UGA during his 3 years there.