Tennessee has officially announced the hiring of two new assistant coaches, as originally rumored earlier this week.
Josh Heupel was entrusted with replacing two openings this month, as running backs coach Jerry Mack moved to
Jacksonville and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary returned to Michigan.
Heupel and defensive coordinator Tim Banks have named William Inge as the new linebacker this week. Inge arrives
from Washington, where he was the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator during the Huskies’ run to the
National Championship.
“William is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable linebacker coaches in the country,” Inge said in a
statement. “He has a proven track record of success and knows what it takes to fight for championships on the
defensive side of the ball. William is also a fantastic family man, and I’m confident that our players and coaches will
appreciate working with him. “We are thrilled to welcome his family to Rocky Top.”
Inge had been with DeBoer since he was at Indiana. He followed DeBoer to Fresno State and Washington. He will
take over a youthful linebacker corps led by returning senior Keenan Pili. Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander, Elijah
Herring, Kalib Perry, and Jalen Smith will now develop under his supervision.
On the offensive side of the ball, De’Rail Sims will take over as running back coach. Sims arrives from Cincinnati,
having previously visited Louisville, James Madison, East Carolina, and West Carolina. Sims contributed to the
Bearcats’ fifth-ranked rushing assault in the country during the 2023 season.
“We are excited to welcome De’Rail, his wife Lauren and his daughters Amayah and Alivia into the Tennessee
football family,” Heupel stated in a press release. “De’Rail is an extraordinarily bright coach who has a proven track
record of developing terrific running backs and building relationships with his players. Our run game has been
critical to who we are as a program, and I expect him to make an easy adjustment and help us maintain that success.
De’Rail also has the
