What's the surest path to a career coaching college football?

Try being a graduate assistant. The work isn't glamorous. The hours are long. And the pay is tuition.

But stick with it, and chances are a job will be waiting after it's over.

Former University of Tennessee quarterback Jim Bob Cooter became the Vols' newest graduate assistant, replacing Rick Clausen last week.

While Clausen left to take a job with an insurance company near Chicago, Cooter's future plans include coaching football.

And if Tennessee's track record with graduate assistants is any indication, he's well on his way.

Ten of Tennessee's graduate assistants in Phillip Fulmer's tenure as head coach are currently coaching in the college or junior college ranks.

Jason Michael, a graduate assistant in 2004, is the New York Jets' offensive quality control coach after spending 2005 with the Oakland Raiders.

Shane Beamer, son of Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and a UT grad assistant 2001-03, was recently hired on Steve Spurrier's staff at South Carolina after a stint at Mississippi State.

UT running backs coach Kurt Roper was a graduate assistant under Fulmer in 1997-98. After the 1998 season, he joined David Cutcliffe at Ole Miss before returning to Tennessee in 2006.

"I think we've had good people; we've researched our candidates, people that are intelligent and passionate about football," Fulmer said. "There's great respect for our program and our accomplishments, and people are anxious to hire people from a program such as Tennessee.

"It's been good for them, and good for us over the years."

For someone like Cooter, who remains in the program as a graduate assistant, the next step is making the full transition from teammate to coach.

"You have to break that tie of being a player," Fulmer said. "You have to become a professional. That's difficult for some and easier for others."

It's also an opportunity that could await senior wide receiver and holder Casey Woods. Fulmer said he's already talked to Woods about staying on as a graduate assistant.

Woods would be aiming to enter the family business, following directly in his father's footsteps. Casey's father, Sparky Woods, was the coach at South Carolina 1989-93 and is coaching running backs at Alabama.

Sparky Woods started his career as a UT graduate assistant in 1977.

"There really has been a great group of GA's pass through here," Cooter said in a UT release. "There's (Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach) John Gruden and a whole list of guys who are doing well. It's an exciting opportunity."

One that Cooter already is pretty well prepared for.

During the spring, he served as a student assistant coach, working mainly with quarterbacks.

As a player, he was something of an offensive air traffic controller, signaling plays from the sideline during the '05 season.

"I not only had to know all the plays but was responsible for coming through with the correct signals during clutch situations of the game. It was a lot of responsibility."

Now, it's a great opportunity.

Ainge Throwing: Quarterback Erik Ainge is throwing again after having minor knee surgery during spring practice to repair meniscus damage.

Fulmer said Ainge was so far ahead of schedule he could have played in the Orange and White Game on March 31.

"He's doing extremely well in his rehab," Fulmer said.