Josh Heupel reflects on return to Orlando, what he has built at Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers are getting ready for the Citrus Bowl in Orlando against Iowa. For head coach Josh Heupel, this is a homecoming of sorts, as he got his first head coaching job with UCF while athletic Danny White was running things there in Orlando.

One big question at Tennessee for Heupel would be whether or not he could rebuild a program because he hadn’t done that at UCF. In three years, it has certainly seemed like he’s more than capable of doing that.

“As far as what we have done at Tennessee, where we started and took that program over at, how we were able to build a culture, re-solidified the locker room, continue to grow, and the success that we have had,” Josh Heupel said. “We have been disappointed with some of the results this season, obviously. Who we are, what we are about, and how we continue to go grow, what we have been able to recruit, we are really excited about the future.”

The 2022 season saw Tennessee go 11-2, beat Alabama, and win the Orange Bowl. It was a long time coming and even after taking a step back in 2023, the growth of the Volunteers program has been obvious.

“There are so many people that go into reestablishing the foundational pieces of one of the greatest programs in the history of college football, and we have to continue to grow,” Heupel added. “We have to go chase championships. I know that is a standard at Tennessee, but excited about the future.”

Still, this is a homecoming for Josh Heupel in Orlando. While at UCF he went 28-8, with a conference championship and two top-25 finishes in three seasons.

“As far as being back in Orlando, I mentioned at the beginning, it is unlike you to show up late for a press conference. I thought that might get a couple chuckles out of the Orlando crowd (laughter), but maybe not,” Heupel joked. “This is a great city. My family, myself, we absolutely love living here. A lot of our staff at Tennessee was with us here. It has been great to be back in this city.”

UCF clearly has no hard feelings about Heupel leaving for Tennessee because, as he explained, the school let Tennessee borrow its facilities to practice ahead of the Citrus Bowl.

“To the administration, Coach [Gus] Malzahn at UCF, they were great and allowing us to go practice there. Rode in the first day. Rode through campus. Get off the bus, you are sitting right next to the Bounce House. Get a chance to get on the practice field. It was a lot of fun because there was so many great memories that came back. Got a chance to talk with a lot of people that have been a huge part of my journey and our journey,” Heupel said.

“It has been a great week. We had a night where we had, I don’t know, 25, 30 players that got an opportunity to come by the hotel and hang out it. Was a great night.”

Josh Heupel explains what role Joe Milton will have from the sideline during Citrus Bowl

Joe Milton won’t play in the Citrus Bowl. However, as Josh Heupel explained, he will still have a role in the Citrus Bowl from the sideline.

“Joe has done it the right way during the course of his career. You look at how everything has unfolded, he is a guy that chose to stay. Believed in his teammates what we were building, and how his coaching staff and players around him were going to help him grow as a player. Did a lot of really great things during the course of the season. He has been a huge impact on our program for game day on Monday. Be another voice to help Nico as he comes off the sidelines, things that are going on. Being able to help him get ready for the next set and also create positive energy,” Heupel said.

“Besides being the quarterback on the field, throwing the football, making decisions, every other part of his roles that he has had during the course of the year he can still have on the sideline.”