Tennessee football contract details for Josh Heupel's new coaches

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Tennessee football signed three new assistant coaches to contracts on Jan. 2, completing the primary staff under Josh Heupel.

It's a busy time for the Vols payroll. Three new assistants signed deals. At least two assistants have been fired, triggering buyouts. And the bulk of Heupel's coaching staff was solidified.

Tennessee provided Knox News with the new coaches' contracts. Here are the details of the 2026 Vols staff pay.

Here are contract details for Josh Heupel coaching staff

Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks and secondary coach Willie Martinez. Outside linebacker coach Levorn Harbin will no longer be part of the on-field coaching staff.

Heupel did not retain strength coach Kurt Schmidt, whose contract expires Jan. 31. And he did not retain assistant secondary coach Earnest Thomas, who was not under contract as a support staff member.

On Dec. 11, Heupel hired veteran defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. On Jan. 2, Heupel hired former Penn State co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter (co-defensive coordinator/secondary), former Penn State assistant Andrew Jackson (edge rushers) and former Ohio State assistant Michael Hunter Jr. (cornerbacks). Defensive line coach Rodney Garner got a two-year contract extension, and linebackers coach William Inge was also retained.

Heupel has not hired a new strength coach yet. He retained his entire offensive coaching staff, recently giving raises and contract extensions to offensive coordinator Joey Halzle and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope.

Here are the updated contract details with 2026 salary for Heupel and his staff.

  • Josh Heupel (head coach): $9 million through January 2030
  • Jim Knowles (defensive coordinator): $2 million through January 2029
  • Joey Halzle (offensive coordinator/QBs): $1.45 million through January 2028
  • Rodney Garner (defensive line): $1 million through January 2028
  • Glen Elarbee (offensive line): $900,000 through January 2028
  • William Inge (linebackers): $795,000 through January 2027
  • Kelsey Pope (wide receivers): $800,000 through January 2028
  • Anthony Poindexter (safeties): $805,000 through January 2028
  • De'Rail Sims (running backs): $425,000 through January 2027
  • Andrew Jackson (edge rushers): $375,000 through January 2028
  • Alec Abeln (tight ends): $375,000 through January 2027
  • Evan Crabtree (special teams): $250,000 through January 2028
  • Michael Hunter Jr. (cornerbacks): $225,000 through January 2028

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football coach pay: Contract details for Josh Heupel staff

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