SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A trip to Texas will be a part of Tennessee's next football coaching hire.

UT's coaches will visit with several candidates at the coaches' convention Saturday through Jan. 11 in Dallas.

UT is holding out slim hope that Kippy Brown will return to Tennessee. However, those involved within the hiring process do not consider Brown's hiring to be much of a possibility, especially after Brown initially turned down UT's overtures.

Brown and his fellow Houston Texans coaches were fired Monday after a 2-14 season. Brown is thought to have opportunities at other NFL clubs. Brown is two years away from an escalator in his NFL pension.

Brown coached at UT 1983-1989 and 1993-94 and is from Sweetwater. Brown could not be reached for comment on Monday.

UT also was turned down by Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant coach Ron Middleton last month, showing how hard it is to overcome NFL salaries and benefit packages.

Georgia Tech running backs coach Curtis Modkins is another name that has been discussed.

Moving running backs coach Trooper Taylor to wide receivers and hiring a new running backs coach still is a possibility. Taylor coached wide receivers for most of his career before moving to running backs when he accepted that job at UT.

UT's coaches visited with former Murray State coach Joe Pannunzio last week. Pannunzio coached under Tommy Tuberville at Ole Miss and Auburn.

Scouting the Best: Several Tennessee football coaches will be making a recruiting trip to San Antonio.

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and newly hired tight ends/assistant offensive line coach Matt Luke will cover the U.S. Army All-American Bowl for the Vols.

UT's coaching staff also is considering sending defensive backs coach Larry Slade, who is recruiting Jarrell Miller from Highland Spring (Va.) High School. Cutcliffe is recruiting Springdale (Ark.) High School quarterback Mitch Mustain.

UT's coaches will arrive on Saturday in order to meet with several of the top-flight prospects that were invited to the all-star event. College coaches are not allowed to talk to prospects during the week but can visit with them after they have been released from the game on Saturday.

The bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be telecast on NBC, WBIR locally.