Tag: Tyson Helton

How former Tennessee coaches voted Vols in final 2023 US LBM Coaches Poll

A look at how former Tennessee football coaches voted the Vols in their final 2023 Coaches Poll ballot.

The 2023 college football season concluded on Monday.

Michigan defeated Washington, 34-13, in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Tennessee finished its 2023 season with a 9-4 (4-4 SEC) record under third-year head coach Josh Heupel.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 season on Monday, the US LBM Coaches Poll was released after the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Tennessee finished the season ranked No. 17 and received 529 points.

Former Tennessee head coaches and assistants, who are now serving as head coaches at other schools, voted in the US LBM Coaches Poll during the 2023 season.

Below are how Dave Clawson, Stan Drayton, Alex Golesh, Tyson Helton, Brady Hoke and Butch Jones voted Tennessee in their final ballot for the 2023 season.

WATCH: Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton praises Ohio State after the game

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton was quick to give Ohio State credit for how the game went on Saturday rather than lament his own team. Hear him heap praise on the Buckeyes. #GoBucks

It’s always nice to have your praises sung to you by those close to you. In sports, when your coach or your teammates show you appreciation and compliment you, it feels like a warm glass of milk.

But when it comes from the opponent, it might mean even more, especially in a competitive environment when the opposition never wants to relent or give in to reality. If that’s the case, the Ohio State football team should feel pretty good about what Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton said about the Buckeyes after the 63-10 win on Saturday afternoon.

Tyson met with the media after the game to talk about what happened on the field, and he was very complimentary of the team, players and coaches that Ohio State has, going out of his way several times to heap praise on OSU rather than criticize his own team.

It’s worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet. We were there for the press conference and uploaded it to our YouTube channel for your viewing pleasure.

And now the prep for the big one begins. Ohio State will need to replicate the effort it had on Saturday and maybe more when it heads to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.

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What Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton said about Ohio State in previewing the matchup Saturday

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton was very complimentary of Ohio State leading into the matchup Saturday. #GoBucks

Ohio State is back in the Horseshoe this Saturday, hosting its second-straight nonconference game against Conference USA foe, Western Kentucky. The Buckeyes will try to remain unbeaten and run their record to 3-0, but the Hilltoppers should provide a stiff challenge to the Ohio State defense with a high-flying offense that stresses teams schematically.

The defensive side of the ball isn’t anything to write home about, but there’s still some concerns when facing a team that can try to outscore the opponent. Still, it’ll be an uphill climb for the Hilltoppers to come into the ‘Shoe and knock off one of the best teams in the country, and head coach Tyson Helton is fully aware of that.

He met with the media earlier this week to discuss the matchup with Ohio State and had some pretty glowing remarks about the program including being excited to play in Ohio Stadium, the respect he has for Ryan Day’s offensive mind, the strength and skill of OSU, and more.

Check out Helton’s complete press conference thanks to the WKUSports YouTube channel.

And remember, we’ll have coverage leading up to kickoff at 4 p.m. ET, coverage during the game, and analysis after, so stay with us.

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Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Tyson Helton votes Tennessee No. 5

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot: Western Kentucky head coach and former Vols’ offensive coordinator Tyson Helton votes Tennessee ahead of Alabama

Georgia defeated TCU, 65-7, in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Following the national championship game, the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released.

Tennessee finished No. 6, while Alabama is ranked fifth.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule featured home games against Ball State (W, 59-10), Akron (W, 63-6), Florida (W, 38-33), Alabama (W, 52-49), UT Martin (W, 65-24), Kentucky (W, 44-6) and Missouri (W, 66-24).

The Vols’ 2022 schedule featured road contests at Pittsburgh (W, 34-27 OT) in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU (W, 40-13), Georgia (L, 27-13), South Carolina (L, 63-38) and Vanderbilt (W, 56-0).

Tennessee defeated Clemson, 31-14, in the Capital One Orange Bowl to conclude its 2022 season on Dec. 30.

Tyson Helton, Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton voted in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll during the 2022 season. Helton served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018 before becoming Western Kentucky’s head coach.

Helton’s final ballot is listed below.

Jimmy Holiday transfers to play for former Vols’ offensive coordinator

Wide receiver Jimmy Holiday transfers to play for former Vols’ offensive coordinator.

Tennessee sophomore wide receiver Jimmy Holiday entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 5.

Holiday has committed to play for head coach Tyson Helton at Western Kentucky. Helton served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Tennessee in 2018 under head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

Helton has compiled a 32-21 record and is 3-1 in bowl games during his tenure as Western Kentucky’s head coach since 2019.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Holiday appeared in 31 games from 2020-22 for the Vols, recording seven receptions, 111 yards and one touchdown. Holiday totaled six rushing yards one attempt.

He returned 19 kickoffs for 407 yards.

Holiday came to Tennessee from Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi.

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Former Vols’ offensive coordinator hires Zach Kittley

Former Vols’ offensive coordinator hires Zach Kittley.

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton has hired Zach Kittley as the Hilltoppers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Helton served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018, Jeremy Pruitt’s first season as head coach with the Vols.

Vols Wire previously highlighted Kittley as a rising offensive coach in college football.

2020 was Kittley’s third season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at FCS Houston Baptist.

He joined Houston Baptist’s staff following a five-year stint at Texas Tech under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Kittley joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” in July to discuss his coaching career and offensive philosophies.

The show can be listened to here or below.

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Former Tennessee linebacker Will Ignont announces transfer school

Will Ignont announces transfer school.

BOWLING GREEN — Linebacker Will Ignont left the University of Tennessee football program during the Vols’ first open date of the 2019 season.

Ignont’s departure occurred following Tennessee’s 1-3 (0-1 SEC) start to the season.

Will Ignont
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

The former UT linebacker announced that he is heading to Western Kentucky to play for head coach Tyson Helton. Helton served as the Vols’ offensive coordinator during the 2018 campaign, Jeremy Pruitt’s first season as Tennessee’s head coach.

Helton finished 9-4 in his first season as head coach at Western Kentucky in 2019.

Ignont made a career-high eight tackles against BYU on Sept. 7 before his departure from the Vols’ football program.