Ex-Syracuse coordinator Browning set to join UT staff as GA

Former Syracuse offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mitch Browning is set to become a graduate assistant coach at Tennessee as early as next week, a source said Tuesday.

Browning, who was a part-time coach at North Carolina State from 1980-81 when UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was head coach there, must be accepted into a graduate program before he can officially begin work as a graduate assistant with the Vols.

NCAA rules prohibit a school from having more than nine assistant coaches, and graduate assistants are not allowed to contact or evaluate recruits off campus. A graduate assistant can contact prospects by phone, as long as he has passed the NCAA’s certification test for recruiters.

Browning would still be paid by Syracuse, where he signed a multi-year deal, according to Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com, which reported Tuesday that Browning was considering a move to Tennessee.

Under NCAA rules, graduate assistants are not allowed to receive outside compensation beyond a full year’s grant-in-aid, four tickets to football and basketball games and any employee benefits offered by the school.

Browning spent last season with the Orange, after working with former Minnesota head coach Glen Mason for most of his career.

He did not coach during the 2007 season after Mason, now an analyst for the Big Ten Network, was fired.

Browning spent seven of his 10 seasons at Minnesota as the Gophers’ offensive coordinator.

At Syracuse, he worked primarily with guards and centers in addition to his role as offensive coordinator.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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