Kendal Briles has been a coach on the rise within college football during the last decade.
Briles is in his first season as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator. He has a one-year contract worth $1 million, as it will expire Feb. 28, 2021. First-year Razorbacks’ head coach Sam Pittman has the option, upon his recommendation, to retain Briles for the next two seasons.
Briles’ experience at Baylor, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Florida State and Arkansas has placed him in position for a head coaching job, either at the Group of Five or Power Five levels, in the near future.
November is a time within the sport and business of college football in which schools, coaches and agents begin to posture clients for potential jobs when the season ends.
If Briles has an opportunity to continue moving up the coaching ladder following the conclusion of the 2020 season, Pittman would seek to fill his void.
That void could be filled with Tennessee’s offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. Chaney and Pittman coached alongside each other at Arkansas from 2013-14. The duo also coached together at Tennessee (2012) and Georgia (2016-18).
Pittman understands at a school like Arkansas, being creative and physical on offense is key in competing with top teams in the Southeastern Conference. Chaney has been able to scheme creatively at various stops, including Purdue where he served as co-offensive coordinator alongside Tim Lappano.
“Jim’s a sharp guy,” Lappano said on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.” “He believes in being able to be physical and being able to spread the field and create some matchups for you, too.
“At the end of the day, he knows you have to be physical. No matter what scheme you are playing, you better be physical, or you are not going to go where you need to go — and it all comes down to that. No matter what system it is, you have to be physical.”
Washington Huskies’ Rip Rowan discusses coaching alongside Kendal Briles at Florida Atlantic
If Chaney were to leave for another position such as Arkansas, he has one year remaining on his Tennessee contract worth $1.7 million. Below is his contract in terms of a buyout.
Tennessee will also be in position to potentially fill four other assistant coaching vacancies on Jeremy Pruitt’s staff following the 2020 season.
Will Friend, Tee Martin and Brian Niedermeyer will see their contracts expire Jan. 31, 2021. Pruitt will also fill a defensive line position that became open when Jimmy Brumbaugh was relieved of his duties following a 34-7 loss to Kentucky in Week 4.
Vols Wire discussed existing contracts, including Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, on the “Tony Basilio Show.”
Phillip Fulmer, Jeremy Pruitt, Vols’ assistant coach contracts and when they expire