The Name Game: Vols Search Heats Up

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

North Carolina coach Butch Davis yesterday said he has no interest in the Tennessee job. In so doing, he hoped to avoid the sort of distraction to his Tar Heels that can come when your coach’s name is being bandied about in the media. You never know how a coach will react if the siren call of a big contract comes. But the timing doesn’t seem right for Davis to leave. He hasn’t yet completed what he started at Chapel Hill. – Baltimore Sun

Mike Leach is not a good fit at Tennessee: I like Mike Leach. I like to watch his Texas Tech teams play. I was very impressed with the way the Red Raiders dominated a very good team from Oklahoma State. I love his irreverent style. College football desperately needs guys like Mike Leach to give it some flavor. Having said all that, I just don’t see Leach as the next head coach at Tennessee. Oh, the football part of the equation would be fine. His quarterbacks throw for about 400 yards a game and he’s gotten to the point now where he has a solid running game and a pretty decent defense. Leach has a law degree from Pepperdine. He is known to take his post-game media sessions off on tangents that few can follow. In short, we in the media would love the guy. After 17 years of having an offensive lineman as their head coach, I know Tennessee fans want something new and exciting. Leach would certainly be that. It would certainly be entertaining. But it should be noted that before this season Leach was 65-37 in eight seasons at Texas Tech without a division title. Under Leach, Tennessee would play entertaining football. But would it play championship football? – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is indeed one of Tennessee’s top candidates, the Vols could have some competition for his services. Kiffin interviewed last week with Clemson athletic director, Terry Don Phillips, for the Tigers’ head coaching job. There has also been discussion between Tennessee officials and Kiffin’s representatives. The 33-year-old Kiffin was the offensive coordinator at Southern California before becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history. He was 31 at the time of his hiring, but was pushed out earlier this season by Raiders owner Al Davis. Some of the other names on Tennessee’s list include: Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, Minnesota coach Tim Brewster and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Clemson is also expected to talk with Muschamp, one of the hottest coordinators out there this year. – ESPN.com

Despite reports that say a $3 million-plus deal may be coming his way from Tennessee, North Carolina coach Butch Davis said Wednesday his agent hasn’t been contacted by officials from that school and he has no interest in replacing Phil Fulmer next year. Reports out of Tennessee, including one in The Tennessean newspaper in Knoxville, have said the Southeastern Conference school will attempt to lure the second-year UNC head coach with a $3 million package. But Davis, as he has on two previous occasions since it was announced Fulmer wouldn’t return after the 2008 season, that he’s staying in Chapel Hill. “You know what, I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in the University of Tennessee job,’’ Davis said during the weekly ACC Coaches’ teleconference. “It’s a great job. But I’m not interested in it. “As I’ve said the last couple of weeks, I love being here and my family loves being at Carolina. Our staff and the administration are doing everything we can, every single day to build a championship football program here.’’ When asked if his agent, Jimmy Sexton, has been contacted by Tennessee officials, Davis responded, “No.’’ – Fayetteville Observer

Davis is the fourth coach to deny interest in the job, joining Jon Gruden, Steve Spurrier and David Cutcliffe although there is no indication any of the four were contacted or offered the job. – WBIR