Staff stability key to success for Fulmer

When Dan Brooks came to Tennessee’s football staff in 1994, one of his players expressed a complaint Brooks has never forgotten.

“I had one senior,’’ Brooks recalled, “and he said, ‘Every time I get used to the drills, they change the coaches.’

“I made the fifth defensive line coach in six years. That’s tough for those young people to progress.’’

Not a problem anymore.

Every UT defensive tackle since ‘94 has been drilled by Brooks. Every defensive end since 1995 has been coached by Steve Caldwell.

John Chavis is beginning his 19th season at Tennessee, his 13th as defensive coordinator.

Larry Slade is the “new kid” on the defensive staff, veteran of a mere eight years.

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe matches Chavis’ 18 years at UT, although there was a six-year gap between his departure to become head coach at Ole Miss in 1999 and his return last fall.

No other SEC coaching staff comes close to matching Tennessee’s continuity. The Vols’ staff has 28 more years of collective tenure than any other school in the league.

That’s exactly what Phillip Fulmer set out to do when he was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in late 1992.

“Before I ever came over here to interview,’’ Brooks said, “he (Fulmer) said, ‘Don’t come if you’re wanting to run to the NFL. I want some guys to come and stay to-gether and coach these guys.’ ‘’

Fulmer’s offensive staff is still building chemistry. Aside from Cutcliffe, four-year veteran Greg Adkins is the senior member.

In contrast, the staying power of the defensive staff is unusual in what is often a nomadic world of assistant coaches. Job security is minimal; moves tend to be fre-quent.

And yet since Chavis became coordinator, there has been just one change. Kevin Ramsey left to become defensive coordinator at Georgia. Slade replaced him.

“To be able to walk in that room and work with those three men every day is a blessing,’’ Chavis said.

“You know what their heart is. You know what they’re all about. As good a coaches as they are, they’re better men.’’

The continuity pays dividends on a number of fronts.

“We’re all on the same page,’’ Slade said. “You’re not out there thinking, ‘Well, how do we do this?’

“You’ve already been through it with those same guys over and over again.’’

Said Caldwell, “When you’re out there on Saturday, I know exactly what John’s looking for. I know what he wants me to tell him.’’

Then there’s the familiarity in relationships with high school coaches. Brooks and Caldwell are consistently productive recruiters.

“I hired Dan, one, because he was a great defensive line coach,’’ said Fulmer, “but, two, because he had great connections in western North Carolina and he’s an ab-solute bulldog recruiting.’’

Brooks has had opportunities to leave and passed.

“Steve Caldwell and I are like brothers,’’ he said. “I’d do anything for him and he feels the same way. Our wives are like sisters.

“You make relationships and that makes it harder to leave. I think Coach Fulmer works at that.’’

Caldwell likens the long-term connection to a marriage.

“You know that you have each other’s backs,’’ he said, “regardless of what happens.

“I’d love to finish my career here. I hope it works out that way.’’

It might. Athletic director Mike Hamilton recently broke ground by giving the assistants two-year contracts. They include a penalty for leaving to make a lateral move.

“Part of the reason we put that in there,’’ said Hamilton, “is we want to hold this staff together because we think they can produce good things.’’

Added Fulmer, “I’m looking forward to them being here a long time.

“We’ve been down a lot of roads together.’’

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.