Tennessee Head Coaches Recent Struggles Against the Tide

First year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel looks to accomplish something that the past four Vol head coaches haven’t been able to…

Beat Bama.

Phillip Fulmer is the last head coach that was able to beat Alabama in 2006. Since then, the next four Tennessee head coaches have not been able to drown the Tide.

After Fulmer left Tennessee in 2008, the next Vol head coach to face Alabama was Lane Kiffin. The 2009 version of the Third Saturday in October proved to be an epic game as Terrence “Mount” Cody blocked Tennessee’s game winning field goal as time expired to secure a 12-10 victory for the Tide.

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Kiffin later became the Alabama offensive coordinator in 2014.

Derek Dooley, Tennessee head coach from 2010-12, was the next in line to face the Tide. Dooley’s team suffered three blow-out losses during his tenure, 41-10, 37-6, and 44-13.

Next up would be Butch Jones who served as the Tennessee head coach from 2013-17. The Vols almost pulled the upset in 2015, but a Derrick Henry touchdown run with 2:24 left in the game secured a 19-14 Tide win in Tuscaloosa. Jones’ team fell by margins of 14, 39, and 38 in the other three contests during his reign. Jones became an offense analyst for Alabama in 2018.

It’s safe to say that Jones enjoyed his time on the other side of this rivalry.

The most recent Tennessee head coach, Jeremy Pruitt, came to Knoxville in 2018 after serving as the Alabama defensive coordinator. Pruitt’s team fell to Alabama by margins of 37, 22, and 31.

Will Josh Heupel be able knock off the Tide or will Saban continue his dominance in this series?

The Vols and Tide face off on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.