Report: Jerry Mack expected to be Tennessee’s running backs coach

Unlike the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee’s offensive staff is filling out nicely. Josh Heupel reportedly made another hire today, adding Rice offensive coordinator Jerry Mack to the staff to coach running backs. Pete Thamel had the report this afternoon.

Mack is a former head coach at the college level, spending four seasons at North Carolina Central where he held a 31-15 overall record. He made the move to the FBS level in 2018, becoming the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Rice. Mack played receiver in college, spending a season at Jackson State before transferring to Arkansas State.

Mack’s coaching career began at Delta State as a grad-assistant. He got his first positional gig at Jackson State in 2006, coaching the receivers and tight ends. He moved on to Central Arkansas in 2008, where he served as a passing game coordinator and receivers coach. Mack coach quarterbacks at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and then receivers again for a season at Memphis in 2011. One more stop at South Alabama coaching receivers led him to his head coaching opportunity at North Carolina Central.

The 40 year old coach is a Memphis native — a trait that will come in handy for Heupel’s recruiting efforts in west Tennessee. Mack’s reported hire would complete Tennessee’s offensive staff under Heupel. Mack would join quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle, tight ends/co-OC Alex Golesh, wide receivers coach Kodi Burns and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee.

This will be Mack’s first time as a running backs coach, but he brings another established offensive mind to table under Heupel, who will be calling the plays himself in Knoxville.