Tennessee football coaching staff candidates for head coach position emerge
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 9:07 AM
Last updated Sep 17, 2026
Tennessee's football program considers potential head coach candidates as the 14th-ranked Volunteers prepare to face Kennesaw State on Sept. 19. Two former assistants, Alex Golesh and Jerry Mack, have recently taken head coaching positions. Notable current UT assistants who might make the jump include offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter, and rising star Kelsey Pope, who serves as wide receivers coach. This discussion comes at a time when opportunities in college football are evolving rapidly.
- •Tennessee plays Kennesaw State on Sept. 19.
- •Golesh and Mack are recent assistant-to-head coach transitions.
- •Joey Halzle is a leading candidate on the current staff.
- •Anthony Poindexter was previously a candidate for Virginia's head coach.
- •Kelsey Pope has rapidly advanced in the coaching ranks at Tennessee.
- 9:07 AMYahoo Sports — Who's next Tennessee assistant to become head coach after Jerry Mack, Alex Golesh?
"Tennessee will face Josh Heupel assistants that became head coaches, Auburn’s Alex Golesh and Kennesaw State’s Jerry Mack. Who makes the jump next?
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 10:06 AMOxford, MS, held a Lane Kiffin roast before Ole Miss-LSU. Here are the best jokes we can print
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 10:05 AMWhere is 'College GameDay' this week? Location, schedule, guest picker for Week 3
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 10:05 AMWill Stein says major Kentucky Football uniform changes are years away
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 10:00 AMBehind the coaching path that led Kevin Cahill to Yale: 'Come here to win championships'
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 10:00 AMWhich Texas college football team do you like to hate the most?
NCAAF•Sep 17, 2026, 9:32 AMLeague won't allow Dae'Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris to sign with NFL teams