For Vols' defensive line coach Rodney Garner, the old school way continues to stand the test of time

There’s a tiny feel of autumn in the air as the Vols hit the practice field in the early morning.  A visit to the defensive side for viewing and there’s one constant. It’s the bellowing voice of veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner. 

Observing Garner’s work with his players is not for the faint of heart. Garner is blunt. He’s intense. His standard may seem impossible to reach. 

“Coach Garner is tough, but it’s a part of the business,” junior Tyler Baron said. “I wouldn’t want to be coached any other way and I don’t think anyone in the room would. He puts us in the best spot and the proof is in the pudding. He’s done it for as many years as anyone else in the league. Take his coaching and not necessarily his words. He wants the best for all of us. He loves all of us.”

For Garner, there is no new approach to coaching. It’s an old-school style and it’s been that way since he began coaching in 1990. 

It’s not a style that is common anywhere in today’s world. But it’s a style that’s been able to stand the test of time because of the deep-rooted relationships that Garner has with his players. 

“Our relationship transcended football,” said class of 2022 NFL Hall of Fame inductee Richard Seymour. “He’s just a great man. He’s a family man and I was just able to learn so much not only on the football field, but just about the responsibility of a student-athlete. What it meant to do things the right way in every aspect. He is a great example for a lot of young men to follow. He’s just a great guy. His wife, Kim, they have just been great to me and my family. I have the utmost respect for him as a coach but more importantly as a man.”

Seymour embraced the sternness and demands of Garner. In doing so, he learned countless lessons. Those lessons didn’t just help him on the field, but he still uses them to this day with his own children. 

“Everything was done with a purpose with coach Garner,” Seymour explained. “There’s countless times where I reflect on a lot of his teachings. A lot of times, it’s not by what one says, it’s by when you watch them how they treat their family. How do they treat their wife? How do they treat their kids? He is a living example. A lot of times it wasn’t always the words, it was the actions that I admired. I just wanted to treat my family the way he did his as well.

“For my dad, he was always comfortable with coach Garner because he was the type of man he felt comfortable leaving me with at the University of Georgia. My dad knew he would always have my best interest and tell me the right thing to do and not necessarily the easiest thing.”

Garner’s coaching career features seven NFL first round draft picks and 10 All-Americans developed. 

However, for the man most refer to as ‘Coach G’, his passion is not about sending guys to the NFL. It’s about getting them to achieve the absolute best out of themselves in life. 

“The one thing that always stuck with me and I think really has helped me throughout my career is the things he established with me, and not necessarily football,” said current New York Jet Carl Lawson. “He would always say a pro is a pro long before he’s a pro. Being a professional, getting to where I am and being able to navigate the business of the NFL. Those values he instills in people carry you for a lifetime.

“I knew outside of football he was going to prepare me for life.”

Former Vol offensive tackle Chad Clifton had a unique perspective with Garner. In 32 years of coaching in the SEC, Garner has been a defensive line coach for 30 of them. But in 1996 and 1997 in his first stint at Tennessee, Garner coached tight ends and tackles. One of those he coached was Clifton, a long-time Green Bay Packer after being a second-round draft choice. 

“I just remember coach (Garner) and I think he’s probably still this way, he just brought a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and he just made the game fun,” Clifton said. “Also being a former defensive lineman, it was unique having a defensive lineman as your o-line coach, he kind of brought the defensive perspective. I remember the biggest thing he told me was that offensive line is about angles and about initiating the fight as soon as possible. It was just a lot of fun with him as a coach. He made me a better player. I tell people all the time he’s one of my favorite o-line coaches I ever had.”

And like most all who played for Garner, he appreciated the clear and often blunt messaging.

“I think every player, if they are honest with themselves, will say that’s the type of coaching they want and respond to the best. It’s not always going to be great. There will be times where a coach needs to jump your butt and get you going right. As long as it’s done tactfully, which I felt like he always did, you always knew where you stood. You knew he was going to coach you hard, coach you tough, but it was for you to be the best player you could be to help your team. I think players respect that and respond to that.

“He wants each player to reach their ultimate potential. I think even though maybe he takes a more old-school approach with no BS, guys respect that. They know what he’s done in the college ranks. The players he has coached. I think guys see that and respect that.”

Demetric Evans played for Garner at Georgia and is a current captain in “The Trust” which is a part of the NFL Players Association, helping guys as they transition out of the league when their career is done. Evans describes Garner as an uncle he never had. 

“He was one of the only black coaches on the staff at the time at Georgia who treated us all like he was our uncle. I’m not going to say father because I don’t want to disrespect anyone’s dad. But he was that uncle and you know an uncle can be direct with you,” Evans explained.  “Your uncle doesn’t worry about your feelings or you being upset with him. He’s going to tell you the truth because he knows the truth is going to stand the test of time. That’s what Rodney Garner did for me. He taught me the importance of carrying myself well and having a good name. Be thoughtful of the choices you make.

“He just taught me how to be relatable. You think about Rodney at the time he was 33-34 years old when he was coaching me. I was 17 and he still understood how to be relatable. I think a lot of people think coaching is about x’s and o’s. But it’s ‘Can you relate to the generation of kids as they are developing and changing in society’? He’s done a great job of that. Coach Garner taught me the importance of evolving and being able to reach your audience. A lot of people aren’t successful in their workplace because they don’t know how to reach their audience and adjust to them.” 

For 32-years, Garner’s goal has been the same — get the best out of those he’s coaching. The veteran admits his style at times can be challenging to young men.  But it’s a style that comes from the heart and with love which is why it has stood the test of time. It’s one that Garner won’t deviate from because of the life-lasting impact it has on those who develop under his tutelage. 

“Like I explain to the guys, all I want from my players is I want them to be the best version of them,” Garner said. “Obviously, when they are in that moment it may not seem that way. I called them up after practice and I’m coaching Tyere (West) up on something and he gives you that look like whatever. I’m like dude, I just want you to be the best version of you. I think so many times guys take things personal, and I try to tell them, I could probably be a little bit aggressive and brutal. I may not say something in the nicest way, but I tell them don’t take the tone. Receive the message. 

“That’s just me wanting to win and wanting you to be better. At the end of the day, 99% of my guys, they come back and love me. At that moment, they might not like me which is sort of like being a parent. Your kids don’t always like you when you raise them, but when they get older, they love you and appreciate everything you did for them. That’s what we are hoping what transpires here. They are going to love me. They are going to bring their wives and kids back to see me and I’m going to be playing with their kids like they are my grandkids. That’s what it’s all about. I want what’s best for them. I want them to be the best version of themselves so we can be the best version of a Tennessee defensive line and we can be the best version of a Tennessee football team. That’s all I want.”

It’s a message that was received well last week as Rodney Garner’s defensive front had two sacks, five tackles for loss, two PBU’s, nine quarterback hurries, and 20 total tackles in the 34-27 overtime win against Pitt. Something he hopes his unit duplicates against Akron.