Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee to hire Mike DeBord as offensive coordinator

Published Feb. 6, 2015 9:15 a.m. ET

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Bruce Feldman

Mike DeBord will be hired as Tennessee's new offensive coordinator, a source told FOX Sports. The move is expected to be announced later in the day.

The 58-year-old DeBord, a former offensive coordinator at Michigan, replaces Mike Bajakian, who left to take a job in the NFL with the Bucs. In 1997, DeBord helped spark the Wolverines to a national title as offensive coordinator. His experience was a huge selling point for Vols coach Butch Jones, as was the fact that the system Jones' teams have run for the past decade is the one DeBord set up, according to sources. Jones had actually worked under him when DeBord was Central Michigan's head coach from 2000-03.

Jones previously had talked to FOX about how important 'fit' was in making this hire, and that added up to DeBord. Jones had told FOX before the hire was made that the worst thing he could do was make a move that would send the offense (now in Year 3 in Knoxville) backwards. He was more focused on enhancing what they already have set up, and in DeBord he apparently believes he will do that. The move also means there will be no terminology change for the Vols, who were the youngest team in college football in 2014.

DeBord was 54-11 as a play-caller and also helped develop NFL great Tom Brady in his time at Michigan. Word is, the Patriots star was also a very strong supporter in making the case for DeBord.

DeBord's most recent position was as an athletics administrator at Michigan, a job he took in Feb. 2013. He also oversaw day-to-day operations of the Wolverines' football program in the wake of Brady Hoke's firing. Prior to that role, he had spent five seasons in the NFL as an assistant coach.

The Vols were 7-6 in 2014 and just signed a top five recruiting class earlier this week.

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