For the first time in his coaching career, Butch Jones will have someone other than Mike Bajakian calling offensive plays for the 2015 season.
With two weeks remaining until signing day, Tennessee confirmed earlier reports of Bajakian’s departure Thursday evening in a statement from Jones.
“We’d like to thank coach Bajakian for his two years at Tennessee and his efforts in helping us rebuild this storied program,” Jones said. “We wish him much success with his goal of coaching in the NFL.”
According to a press release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bajakian will join the coaching staff of the Bucs as the new quarterbacks coach.
Bajakian just finished his second year at Tennessee and has been a member of head coach Jones’ staff since 2007, dating back to his years at Central Michigan.
Bajakian’s replacement at Tennessee will be the Vols’ fifth offensive coordinator in the last nine years, spanning the employments of four different head coaches.
Under Bajakian last season, the Vols averaged 28.9 points per game, which ranked 62nd in the nation, while amassing 370.5 total yards per contest — 224.2 passing and 146.3 rushing — ranking UT 90th in the country in total offense. Bajakian’s last game as the Vols’ offensive coordinator was Tennessee’s 45-28 victory against Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl.