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Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel has promoted senior defensive analyst Levorn Harbin to outside linebackers coach, replacing Mike Ekeler on his primary staff.
Heupel also promoted analyst Evan Crabtree to special teams coordinator and hired John Bonamego as assistant special teams coach. Bonamego was a veteran NFL special teams coach for almost 20 years, and was the coach of Central Michigan from 2015-18.
Ekeler had served as UT’s special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach since 2021. But he returned to his home state to join the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ staff.
Harbin, known around the Tennessee program as “Chop,” was a sensible choice as Ekeler’s replacement. He has been a valuable recruiter and assistant defensive line coach for the Vols since 2021, drawing interest from other programs eager to add a promising assistant.
“We are excited about the cohesiveness of our coaching staff,” Heupel said in a school release Tuesday. “Chop and Evan understand the culture and standard of excellence that we have built here over the past four years. Both have strong relationships with our players, and it will make for a seamless transition as we get ready for spring practice (beginning March 7).
Tennessee analysts get contract extensions, raises
Harbin was already one of the highest paid analysts in college football. He earned $325,000 in 2024, according to UT salaries obtained by Knox News via an open records request. Along with his promotion, Harbin received a two-year contract extension with a starting salary of $350,000 in 2025.
Crabtree previously served as Ekeler’s special teams assistant earning $100,000 in 2024. Along with the promotion, he signed a three-year contract that pays him $225,000 in 2025; $250,000 in 2026; and $275,000 in 2027.
Bonamego has coached in college and the NFL since 1988, most recently at…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-heupel-promotes-levorn-chop-200626961.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2025-02-18 20:06:00
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