KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has hired Jimmy Brumbaugh as its new defensive line coach, replacing Tracy Rocker who departed for South Carolina.
Brumbaugh comes to Tennessee from Colorado where he served as defensive line coach. He previously coached in the Southeastern Conference at Kentucky (2013–16, defensive line) and LSU (2006–07, assistant strength and conditioning). Brumbaugh played at Auburn from 1995-99.
The new Tennessee defensive line coach first became a position coach in 2005 at Chattanooga under then-Mocs head coach Rodney Allison. Allison was an assistant at Auburn when Brumbaugh was playing for the Tigers.
“I loved his mentality and eagerness,” Allison said of Brumbaugh. “The thing I remember the most about Jimmy is his eagerness to work – his work ethic and mentality.
“He just had a winning attitude. He worked his butt off to be as good as he could be. I really respect him as a person.”
Allison played quarterback (1974-77) and was an assistant at Texas Tech (1979-83). He was part of a 1977 Red Raider team that had Steve Sloan (head coach), Bill Parcells (linebackers), Romeo Crennel (defensive assistant), Rex Dockery (offensive coordinator) and Mike Pope (wide receivers).
“Back then it was the split back veer,” Allison said. “We were very unique in how we did it because we combined drop-back passes with play-action and the triple option, and all of that stuff. Rex was a get after you type coach. He was a tough coach.”
Dockery played at Tennessee (1961–64) and was an assistant for the Vols (1970–71).
As an assistant under Bill Battle at Tennessee, Dockery coached Phillip Fulmer and recruited Condredge Holloway.
Dockery later served as Memphis State’s head coach, and on Dec. 12, 1983, he perished along with two other passengers and the pilot while flying to Lawrenceburg, Tenn. for a football banquet.