Rams assistant Chaney named UT offensive coordinator

Photo by St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jim Chaney

With the addition of Jim Chaney as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff is beginning to take shape.

Chaney has accepted the job and a formal announcement should come in the next few days, a source within UT’s program told the News Sentinel on Wednesday.

Chaney, 46, is a native of Warrensburg, Mo., who played college football at Central Missouri State. He was part of Scott Linehan’s initial Rams staff in 2006, serving as assistant offensive line coach in 2006 and 2007 before moving to tight ends in 2008.

Before coming to St. Louis, all of Chaney’s previous coaching experience had come in the college ranks. He was offensive coordinator at Purdue from 1998 through 2005 and co-offensive coordinator in 1997.

Over that span, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in passing offense five times and were ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total offense six times.

Kiffin, who was hired by UT on Dec. 8, also added New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron to his staff as associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach.

Orgeron, who coached with Kiffin at Southern California, was reportedly been offered at least $500,000 annually to join LSU, according to the Daily Advertiser.

It's unclear if UT would be able to hire Jeremy Bates, who was a reserve quarterback for UT in 1995 before transferring to Rice. The former Sevier County High School star was part of Mike Shanahan’s staff with the Denver Broncos before Shanahan was suddenly fired on Tuesday.

Bates, who coached quarterbacks and receivers for the Broncos, could follow Shanahan to another coaching stop or be retained by Denver, who is thought to have been extremely impressed with Bates’ three seasons there.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is expected to coach UT’s defensive backs meaning the Vols would need to hire a linebacker and defensive line coach.

It is unclear what Stan Drayton’s future holds. The UT running backs coach is one of two holdovers from Phillip Fulmer’s regime, along with tight ends coach Jason Michael, who is thought to be leaning towards a return to the NFL where he coached from 2005-07.

Two offensive coaches have left UT recently: offensive line coach Greg Adkins to Syracuse and receivers coach Latrell Scott to Virginia.

UT has hired former South Carolina quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator David Reaves and former Oakland Raiders assistant offensive line coach James Cregg.

Florida recruiting coordinator/receivers coach Billy Gonzales is also thought to be a candidate for UT’s staff.

With Chaney and assuming Drayton is retained, UT would have five coaches on staff. The NCAA allows nine.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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