Tennessee ‘in good hands’ with Mike Ekeler hiring

Josh Heupel continues to fill his coaching staff at Tennessee.

Josh Heupel continues to fill his coaching staff at Tennessee.

Mike Ekeler is set to oversee Tennessee’s special teams and work within the Vols’ defensive staff.

Ekeler comes to Tennessee from North Texas where he served as the Mean Green’s special teams coordinator in 2020. It was his second stint with North Texas after previously serving as defensive coordinator in 2016.

Prior to North Texas, Ekeler served as special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas (2018-19). He oversaw linebackers at North Carolina from 2017-18.

From 2014-15, Ekeler was inside linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator at Georgia.

Georgia assistant coach Mike Ekeler, reacts in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 9-6. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Linebacker Jake Ganus played for Ekeler at Georgia in 2015.

“Proud of you coach,” Ganus said on Twitter about Ekeler being hired by Tennessee. “SEC special teams better be on alert. Red Bull’s gonna be flowing in the streets. Vol football is in good hands.”

Ganus totaled 101 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in 2015.

He transferred from UAB after the Blazers shutdown its football program following the 2014 season. Ganus totaled 327 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions during his collegiate career at UAB and Georgia (2012-15).

Ekeler served as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma from 2003-04. Heupel also was a graduate assistant in 2004 at Oklahoma.

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