Cooter replacing Clausen as graduate assistant

By DREW EDWARDS, edwardsd@knews.com

Monday, May 7, 2007

Former Tennessee quarterback Jim Bob Cooter is Tennessee's newest graduate assistant coach, replacing Rick Clausen.

Clausen, a former UT quarterback who was the offensive graduate assistant last season, left to take a job with an insurance company in Chicago.

"Rick did a good job for us," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "But we're excited to have Jim Bob."

Cooter, a Fayetteville native, spent four seasons with the Vols as a back-up quarterback.

During spring practice, Cooter served as a student assistant coach.

"Jim Bob is very intelligent, an outstanding communicator and has a very creative mind," Fulmer said. "He'll be an excellent coach if he decides to stay with it."

Cooter will assist offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe in coaching the quarterbacks and work on editing game film and self-scouting.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.