Jeremy Pruitt ‘thrilled’ to bring Jay Graham back to Rocky Top

Jay Graham joins Tennessee’s coaching staff.

KNOXVILLE – Former Tennessee running back (1993-96) and assistant coach Jay Graham has returned to UT.

Graham previously served as running backs coach for the Vols in 2012 under then-head coach Derek Dooley. The former Vol returns to UT and will again oversee the running backs unit.

“I’m excited to welcome Jay Graham back to Tennessee,” UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt said in a press release. “He is one of the best assistant coaches in the country, and his track record for developing running backs speaks for itself, as you can see several of the young men he has coached playing on Sundays. He’s the total package as a coach with his experience playing in the NFL and his years coaching in the SEC and ACC.

“He has tremendous work ethic and an impressive ability to connect with young people.”

Graham returns to Tennessee after serving as co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Texas A&M under Jimbo Fisher. Graham coached running backs at Florida State under Fisher and was on the same Seminoles’ staff with Pruitt (defensive coordinator) in 2013 that won the BCS national championship.

“I was impressed by Jay from the start of our time working together and winning a national championship in 2013,” Pruitt said. “He’s one of the best running backs ever to play at Tennessee, which I saw firsthand in the mid-90s.

“I’m thrilled to be working alongside him again and bringing him back to Rocky Top.”