Lions offensive coordinator — and University of Tennessee alum — Jim Bob Cooter would likely be a candidate for the Volunteers head coaching position, but he will not interview for the job, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Instead, Cooter will focus on his work with Detroit in the hopes of ultimately landing an NFL head coaching gig.
Cooter, 33, was promoted to offensive coordinator midway through the 2015 campaign. While he led the club to a No. 15 ranking in offensive DVOA in 2016, Detroit has slipped to 21st this season. Nevertheless, Cooter is viewed as a rising star in the coaching ranks, and though he’s yet to officially interview for a head coaching job, Cooter was linked to several vacancies during the last hiring cycle. Cooter, who was a backup quarterback and a graduate assistant at Tennessee, declined to comment on his potential interest in the open position earlier this month.
Tennessee originally hired former Rutgers/Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano earlier this week, but social media backlash to the move led the university to reverse its decision. The Volunteers are reportedly interested in Jon Gruden (and are willing to pay him $10MM annually), and have also discussed ex-Vol/current Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers.
Did this guys parents hate him when he was born? Jim Bob Cooter, really?
His name is James Robert cooter. He just decided he liked Jim bob better.
Woulda been great story line….JimBob Cooter….from Bugtussle, TN too the big city Knoxville….