Rubio hired as recruiting intern

Tennessee’s football recruiting ties to South Florida keep getting stronger.

University of Central Florida director of player personnel Steve Rubio will join Tennessee’s staff as a recruiting intern, likely next week, UT confirmed Wednesday.

Rubio, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., spent a year as a volunteer assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where he played football, before attending UCF.

While with the Golden Knights, Rubio spent three years as an equipment manager before spending the 2007 season as UCF’s graduate assistant for recruiting and operations.

He later became the school’s full-time director of player personnel.

By NCAA rules, only UT’s nine assistant coaches and head coach Lane Kiffin are allowed to visit prospects.

Other staff members can be involved in the recruiting process, such as arranging visits and contacting high school coaches, as long as they do so from campus and follow all applicable NCAA rules.

Rubio replaces Paul Gonnella, who came to UT from North Carolina early this year. The Vols also are in the process of hiring a director of player personnel, a position that will replace the director of high school relations.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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