LOS ANGELES — Denver Broncos assistant coach Jeremy Bates was named Southern California's assistant head coach of the offense and quarterbacks coach on Monday. He also will call plays.
Bates, 32, was a star athlete at Sevier County High School.
He was Denver's quarterbacks coach for the last two seasons and worked primarily with the offensive line when he joined the Broncos in 2006. Bates worked with quarterback Jay Cutler and called plays for the NFL's second-most productive offense. But Bates' role with the Broncos became uncertain after Mike Shanahan was fired as coach. New Coach Josh McDaniels will call plays and recently hired an offensive coordinator.
Bates replaces Carl Smith, who was originally named to the position on Jan. 6 but is expected to be named quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns.
USC coach Pete Carroll described Bates as "one of the young, unbelievably bright minds in the NFL" who wants to become a head coach and saw USC as "a great place to come and get that done."
Carroll met with Bates in Denver on Monday to finalize the deal. Carroll said he also had spoken with New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer about the position that originally opened when Steve Sarkisian was hired as Washington's head coach in December.
Bates will call plays from the field while new offensive coordinator John Morton works from the coaches' booth in the press box.
NFL.com reported on Dec. 25, before Shanahan was fired, that new UT coach Lane Kiffin attempted to hire Bates as he started to assemble his staff. According to the report, “Bates was said to have seriously considered Kiffin’s offer, but eventually opted to stay in Denver, where the Broncos gave him a raise and an extension.”
Bates began his coaching career with Tampa Bay, serving as the offensive quality control coach from 2002 to 2003. He was named their assistant quarterback coach in 2004 and became the New York Jets' quarterbacks coach in 2005.
Bates was a reserve quarterback for Tennessee in 1995 and then transferred to Rice and played in 1997 and 1999. He also played baseball at Rice.
His father Jim is a longtime NFL and college assistant coach who served several years as a defensive coordinator. Jim Bates was a linebacker at UT (1964-67), graduate assistant at UT (1968) and linebackers coach at UT (1989).
Bates will inherit a quarterback corps that includes Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain, Matt Barkley and Garrett Green, who are expected to compete to replace Mark Sanchez.
Corp said he was encouraged by Bates' hiring.
"I'm excited," said Corp, who was Sanchez's backup for the Rose Bowl and will be a third-year sophomore next season.
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Comments » 16
SignalMtnVol writes:
Good luck to him. I wonder if Shannahan was fired earlier, would he have accepted the Tennessee job?
blitzshoot writes:
Should do well at USC. Won't be his last stop.
Ironcity writes:
Sounds like he plans on a short stay at USC.
mrsvol writes:
Good move for USC...great move for Bates as this is probably a fast track position for a HC position somewhere. Off subject...I was looking at Volquest (not a subscriber) and was wondering if there was anything interesting in the Alshon Jeffery article (what are the chances of him coming to TN; how solid is his committment to USC)? I would appreciate it! Thanks!
cincivol writes:
The result? The Vols are at least going to get an official visit.
"I've been hearing a lot from Tennessee and I'm still planning on coming up there this weekend," Jeffery said. "That hasn't changed, I'm still going to visit there and then the last weekend I'm going to visit South Carolina."
Jeffery describes himself as still 'committed' to USC, though official visit dates on the last two weekends prior to Signing Day make that commitment look more than a little tenuous.
Tennessee had a slight tie with Jeffrey with new Volunteer assistant David Reaves, who had recruited the gifted receiver while on the staff at South Carolina.
What seems to have caught Jeffery's eye concerning the Vols, and convinced him to come to campus for a closer look, is Kiffin and his track record.
Thanks to his USC commitment, Jeffery is familiar with the recent track record of the Trojan offense over the past several years, something that Kiffin's fingerprints are all over.
"I knew about coach Kiffin from USC and he's just a real cool guy, he's exciting," he said. "Offensively I know what he did out there with big receivers, guys like Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams, in that offense. He's been telling me that I can do those same type of things.
"I'm looking forward to the trip up there, I hope it's great."
________________________________________
Looks like UT has a chance with him visiting. I see this kid wanting to be closer to home.
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Never heard of the guy? Good luck Bates. I am sure Carroll will make him look good. Did he ever play at UT? Go Vols!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Good thought, probably , is my thought. Too bad we don't have 4 quarterbacks like that, Huh? Our three are probably better this year than they were last. Watch this team compete, and probably do very well.
Volunatic writes:
I saw the headline and I thought they might be talking about Bill Bates.
I wonder what he's doing these days?
mrsvol writes:
thanks!!
bloodrunsorange writes:
I sure would have liked to see a UT boy coaching here next year. Jeremy Bates, Al Wilson, Dale Jones, etc… Well, maybe some day!
bluetick writes:
Dude you read my mind. Every time I see the name 'Bates' I still think of Bill Bates. That guy was such a great player in college and the pros. And yea I wonder what he is up to these days too. Guess he got sick of football?
volpreacher writes:
I can only think of these words to say:
You my friend are a complete idiot!
gnm53108 writes:
I think you just gravely insulted idiots.
I dont think rob lives in the same reality as the rest of us.
tnbud62#231266 (Inactive) writes:
jamarcus mcfarlane,d tackle at Lufkin,Tx is not happy there or his momma and grandmother are not happy with his choice of Oklahoma.They are devout Pentecostals and are not happy with either OK or Texas,I think we still have a chance with him no matter his committment status!
tnbud62#231266 (Inactive) writes:
I am hearing from my pensacola people that trent richardson of pensacola is getting wet feet about his bama committment and is seriously considering changing his committment maybe as early as this weekend,stay tuned .....
gnm53108 writes:
Thanks.
Would love to get Richardson.
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