Former Heisman Trophy winner and recent Alabama offensive analyst Chris Weinke has reportedly been hired as Tennessee's new running backs coach, sources confirmed to GoVols247 on Wednesday night.
Weinke emerged as the top candidate for the position on Tuesday, according to Gridiron Now's John Brice.
The former Heisman Trophy winner was previously reported to be the Vols' quarterbacks coach shortly after the hiring of Jeremy Pruitt in December, but apparently turned down the position.
Weinke played quarterback at Florida State from 1997-2000 and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth-round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons with the Panthers (2001-06) and one with the San Francisco 49ers (2007) before retiring.
Weinke began his coaching career at IMG Academy in Tampa, Florida, where he served as the head coach for five seasons. Prior to joining Alabama, he worked as the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach from 2015-16.
Tennessee parted ways with former running backs coach Robert Gillespie on Tuesday.
Gillespie was the only coach retained by new head coach Jeremy Pruitt from the previous regime prior to the report. He was among the coaches officially announced as part of Pruitt's inaugural staff last week after National Signing Day.
