Brian Jean-Mary, a coach who previously worked with linebackers at the University of Texas, now comes back to Michigan.
In Josh Heupel’s initial two seasons at Tennessee, he experienced relatively low turnover among his coaching staff. However, he did lose WR coach Kodi Burns to the Saints, who accepted a position in New Orleans after just one season at Tennessee.
Following the 2022 season, long-time offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh departed to become the Head Coach at USF, having gained attention as a promising candidate for head coaching positions.
Within a week, Heupel faced further departures as former Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jean-Mary returned to the Big 10 to coach linebackers under new UM Head Coach Sherrone Moore. These losses significantly impact Tennessee’s coaching staff.
Jean-Mary’s contributions are notable, particularly his work with linebacker Jeremy Banks, who showed remarkable improvement despite past issues. Additionally, Jean-Mary navigated challenges with Texas transfer Juwan Mitchell, whose behavioral issues persisted at Arizona State after leaving Tennessee.
Furthermore, Jean-Mary played a crucial role in the development of linebacker Aaron Beasley, who flourished under his coaching after being overlooked previously.
On the recruiting front, Jean-Mary’s success is evident, especially in his ability to attract talent from across the country and develop them into impactful players. His recruiting efforts yielded promising prospects for Tennessee in various positions.
Replacing coaches of Jean-Mary’s caliber, who excel in both recruiting and player development, will pose a challenge for Heupel and the Tennessee program. Hopefully, the coaching search will proceed smoothly, considering the timing of these departures.
