Grad assistant Witten hired by Elizabethton

The University of Tennessee football staff has another graduate assistant position to fill.

Former grad assistant Shawn Witten has returned to his alma mater as head coach at Elizabethton High School.

“Shawn has done a great job for us,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday night. “I’ve really seen him grow and mature as a young man and as a coach.

“He’s a sharp young man and I’m not surprised at all he had this opportunity to be a head coach at a very fine program at a very early age.”

The 27-year-old brother of former UT star tight end Jason Witten will try to resurrect a Cyclones’ program that went 3-7 in 2006.

UT’s Jim Bob Cooter recently replaced Rick Clausen as the Vols’ offensive grad assistant.

Witten, who played receiver at Virginia Tech 2000-2003, spent 2006 as the defensive grad assistant under Vols’ defensive coordinator John Chavis.

Prior to that he spent two years on the UT staff as an administrative graduate assistant.

“He did an excellent job helping the defensive staff,” Fulmer said. “I think that was a great move for him to go to the other side of the ball after having been a receiver.

“He also worked with the kickers and did a great job with that group.”

Fulmer said the Vols are currently in the process of finding a replacement for Witten and have “several quality candidates” in mind.

Witten will make his head-coaching debut on Dave Rider Field, named after his grandfather and former Elizabethton coach.