Josh Heupel named as Michigan head coach candidate to consider
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Josh Heupel has one game remaining in his fifth season as Tennessee’s head coach.
No. 23 Tennessee (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will conclude its 2025 campaign in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. The Vols will face Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kickoff between the Vols and Fighting Illini is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST (ESPN).
Following Sunday’s announcement of Tennessee playing Illinois in the Music City Bowl, Heupel parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks after five seasons on Monday.
Jim Knowles is expected to serve as Tennessee’s next defensive coordinator. He served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator in 2025 after being in the same capacity at Ohio State from 2022-24.
A head coaching change was made at Michigan on Wednesday.
Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore after a university investigation found credible evidence he “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” athletics director Warde Manuel said.
Following Moore’s dismissal, Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY released eight candidates who the Wolverines should consider as their next head coach.
Heupel, along with Jeff Brohm (Louisville), Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt), Jesse Minter (Chargers), Dan Mullen (UNLV) and Jedd Fisch (Washington), are eight candidates to consider at Michigan.
“Heupel denied any interest in Penn State and seems locked into bringing Tennessee back into the playoff after a slightly disappointing season,” Myerberg said. “That seems doubly true after his recent decision to fire longtime defensive coordinator Tim Banks and the expected hire Jim Knowles, who previously worked at Ohio State and Penn Stated. But Heupel is an offensive technician who would quickly get the best out of rising sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, who had a hit-and-miss debut season.”
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Josh Heupel named as one of eight Michigan head coach candidates
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