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According to John Brice, Tennessee is set to hire former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long as an offensive analyst.
#BREAKING Multiple sources in college fball tell me former @NDFootball OC Chip Long is being hired as an Offensive Analyst @Vol_Football Long is tight w #Vols asst Brian Niedermeyer who visited ND in spring. Long was in Knox in late-December per numerous sources @FootballScoop
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) February 7, 2020
Long was not retained by Brian Kelly following the 2019 season.
He was hired by Kelly after the 2016 season after one successful season under Mike Norvell at Memphis. Long found immediate success, guiding the Fighting Irish to a 28th and 32nd place finish in 2017 and 2018. He was named a finalist for the Broyles Award following the 2018 season, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Notre Dame didn’t exactly fall off the map in 2019. In fact, it was Long’s best offensive output in terms of points scored, but Kelly felt the need to make a change.
Long, now 36 years old, will reportedly land in Knoxville in a support staff role. With Joe Osovet moving to an on-field role at tight ends coach, Jeremy Pruitt did have a position open off the field.
Long is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He’s served as tight ends coach at Illinois, Arizona State and Memphis. He’s also held a variety of offensive positions under Mike Norvell. Long got his start as a graduate assistant, coaching under Bobby Petrino at Arkansas.
He will now serve as a second set of eyes for offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, perhaps with room to grow in the future — the Nick Saban way, if you will. As a bonus, Long isn’t a stranger to the Memphis area, where Tennessee could use some help following the departure of David Johnson.