Matt House could be Tennessee's next defensive coordinator

Tennessee could make working for Mark Stoops a prerequisite for all of its defensive coordinators.

New head coach Josh Heupel has spent the last two weeks searching for a defensive coordinator. The transfer portal left the cupboard bare. Heupel’s uptempo offense makes the job even less attractive. The Vols’ offense will score points in a hurry, putting a ton of stress on their defense by giving them very little time on the sideline. It’s created the storm for a disastrous coaching search that would be hilarious from afar if it were more prestigious than simply filling a defensive coordinator vacancy.

Matt House may save the day for the Vols.

Kentucky’s linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in 2016, Stoops promoted House to defensive coordinator in 2017. The Wildcats finished the 2018 season ranked sixth in the country in scoring defense. He left Lexington to work with his mentor, Steve Spagnuolo, in Kansas City. It only took one season for House to win a Super Bowl as the Chiefs’ linebackers coach. Now he may be on his way back to the SEC.

Folks in the know in Knoxville started sharing his name as a potential candidate before the Super Bowl. Those talks died down, then were reignited over the weekend, with some expecting a hire to be announced as soon as Monday. Zach Ragan reports the Chiefs upped the ante to retain House, making former Pitt defensive coordinator and current Wofford head coach Josh Conklin the leading candidate for the vacancy.

How will the all unfold? Time will tell. Obviously, nobody in the BBN wants to see House turn the Vols into a defensive juggernaut in Knoxville. Besides, he could use another Super Bowl ring. If House does in fact end up in Knoxville, he would follow Derrick Ansley, giving Tennessee back-to-back former Mark Stoops’ staffers as defensive play-callers. Remember when Kentucky used to hire old Tennessee assistants, like Randy Sanders? Well, well, well, how the turntables.

UPDATE

House turns down Tennessee to remain with the Chiefs. Instead the Vols hired Penn State’s former second-in-command, Tim Banks. Wise decision, Mr. House.