Report: Derrick Dooley new coach at Tennessee

[bballholic]

You knew it was only a matter of time before he got the hell out of Ruston.

BREAKING NEWS: Louisiana Tech's Derek Dooley close to becoming new Tennessee coach
By Glenn Guilbeau

Louisiana Tech head football coach and athletic director Derek Dooley is close to being officially named the new coach at Tennessee, sources have confirmed. Dooley, who has been the coach at Tech for three seasons, canceled end-of-the-season player meetings with his players on Wednesday and left Ruston. He met with Tennessee officials on Wednesday and Thursday.

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who coached with Dooley at LSU from 2001-04 and with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 under Nick Saban, recommended Dooley highly to Tennessee after turning the Tennessee head coaching job down to stay at Texas as its head coach in waiting.

Dooley, 41, is 17-20 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech with a 12-12 record in the Western Athletic Conference. His Bulldogs went 8-5 and 5-3 in 2008 and won the Independence Bowl. Dooley has a law degree from Georgia and a bachelor's degree in government and foreign affairs from Virginia, where he played receiver.

He took over the athletic director reins at Tech in March of 2008.
The son of legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley, he came to LSU in 2000 with Saban as the Tigers' recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach through signing day of 2003. He was special teams coordinator and running backs coach from 2003-04. Dooley was tight ends coach with the Dolphins in 2005 and 2006 before taking the Tech job.

On Wednesday, Tennessee lost head coach Lane Kiffin after one season to USC. Former NFL coach Jon Gruden and Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a former Tennessee offensive coordinator and Ole Miss head coach, have turned the job down.

Dooley started his coaching career in 1996 as a graduate assistant at Georgia. He was the wide receivers coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at SMU from 1997-99 before coming to LSU.

While at LSU, Dooley recommended two coaches with Georgia ties to Saban who have become rising coaches in the business - Muschamp and Kirby Smart.
Muschamp, a former Georgia defensive back, left the defensive coordinator post at Valdosta State in Georgia after the 2000 season to come to LSU. Smart, also a former Georgia defensive back and Valdosta State defensive coordinator, left a graduate assistant position at Florida State after the 2003 season to come to LSU for the 2004 season. Smart later coached with Dooley again at Miami before following Saban to Alabama. He just finished his second season as the Tide's defensive coordinator.

While LSU's recruiting coordinator, Dooley helped Saban land No. 1 classes in 2001 and 2003.

[MetryCajun]

_ You knew it was only a matter of time before he got the hell out of Ruston.

This hire makes no sense and I would not be happy if I were a Tennessee fan. Dooley obviously has good connections.

[bballholic]

I certainly don't view this as some slam dunk hire. However, I don't think Tenn had much choice since head coaches from Air Force and Duke were declining the job offer.

[ManAboutTown]

Not only are they going to lose a HC, but they are also loosing an athletic director, a vision for the future, and a true talent. I can't stand the guy, but he's at least brought a presence to that program. This potential hire is mediocore for Tennessee (because I don't think DD is ready for the big time yet), good for UL, and TERRIBLE for Tech.

I give it 1 season before the snotty noised, uppity Techsters fall back down their pretentious ladder and come crawling back to UL trying to schedule home and homes.. My, how the tables have turned, potentially

[HoustonCajun]

_ I certainly don't view this as some slam dunk hire. However, I don't think Tenn had much choice since head coaches from Air Force and Duke were declining the job offer. _

The DC at Texas also declined. Apparently, the coaches that declined recommended Dooley. Tennessee needs to name someone quickly with recruiting on the line, according to ESPN. They need to act now and may name a coach by end of day. Things are looking good for Dooley. Not so good for Tech.

[Crackleton]

Just saw it on ESPN.

[keithj]

Wow, I was reading the Tech board the past day and this morning when the chatter started about this. No one really thought it'd happen. Their board must be in meltdown mode. Dooley was their messiah.

[ULtimateCajun]

Wow, not quite the big splash Tennessee was looking for I think he'll do well in the long run.


igeaux.mobi

[Damon]

L
O
L

[CajunZ1]

_ The DC at Texas also declined. Apparently, the coaches that declined recommended Dooley. Tennessee needs to name someone quickly with recruiting on the line, according to ESPN. They need to act now and may name a coach by end of day. Things are looking good for Dooley. Not so good for Tech. _

I can only hope that Rickey and Co. are "classless" (sarcasm) enough to try and take some of Dooley's recruits!!

[CajunZ1]

Tennessee's hand was forced. Given the situation, it was probably an OK hire.

I think Dooley will do well.

Now who does Tech hire??

[Crackleton]

_ I can only hope that Rickey and Co. are "classless" (sarcasm) enough to try and take some of Dooley's recruits!!

_

I think the word you are looking for is "opportunistic". Cajuns-1, Rednecks-0