Tennessee announced on Friday morning that Mike DeBord, formerly the Michigan Olympic sports administrator, has been named the Volunteers new offensive coordinator.
DeBord, who has 30 years of coaching experience, replaces former offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, who left UT to fill the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach vacancy on Jan. 22.
“We are very excited to welcome Mike DeBord and his family into the Tennessee family,” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said in a university release. “Mike is a tireless worker and innovator with a proven track record of success as both an offensive coordinator and as a developer of quarterbacks at a high level. He has demonstrated meticulous attention to the small details, and he is a great fit with our staff, players and the entire Tennessee football organization.”
Jones and DeBord have worked together before in reversed roles when DeBord was Central Michigan’s head coach from 2000-2003 and Jones was the offensive coordinator for the Chippewas.
DeBord’s last offensive coordinator gig came from 2006-2007 when he held the position at the University of Michigan — a position he also held from 1997-99.
During his two stints at Michigan, the Wolverines compiled a 52-11 record, including a perfect 12-0 season in 1997 which ultimately ended with the Wolverines winning the national championship and DeBord being named Sporting News National Assistant Coach of the Year.
In his 12 combined seasons at Michigan, the Wolverines never missed out in playing in a bowl game.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of the great tradition and culture of the University of Tennessee football program,” DeBord said. “I was very selective about the job opportunities presented, and I’m very excited to be a part of the building of something special here at Tennessee. The familiarity with the system, the staff and Butch Jones will be a great asset as we build upon and enhance our offensive system at Tennessee.”
DeBord will also act as the Vols’ quarterbacks coach, a position he hasn’t coached since 1986 when he was offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Fort Hays State University.
In his time as an offensive coordinator, though, DeBord has helped develop quarterbacks such as Brian Griese — the starting quarterback of that 1997 national championship Michigan team — and four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who played under DeBord for two seasons at Michigan.
“The University of Tennessee has hired a great offensive coordinator in Mike DeBord,” Brady said. “Mike was my offensive coordinator in college and helped me develop as a quarterback. He has great knowledge in offensive football and quarterback development, and he will do an outstanding job at Tennessee.”
Away from the college ranks, DeBord has coached five seasons in the NFL, working as the Seattle Seahawks assistant offensive line coach in 2008 and their tight ends coach in 2009. DeBord also acted as the tight ends coach for the Chicago Bears from 2010-12.
“While our time together was short, Mike DeBord was one of the finest coaches I ever had,” said Mike Holmgren, who was the head coach in Seattle during DeBord’s tenure. “Mike was a great team guy on the staff and his outstanding football knowledge helped me in so many ways.”
As part of the Vols’ staff changes, assistant coaches Zach Azzanni and Robert Gillespie received promotions.
Azzanni, who also acts as the wide receivers coach for Tennessee, has been named passing game coordinator, while running backs coach Robert Gillespie has been named recruiting coordinator for UT.
“Zach has been instrumental in our continued growth, development, and success as an offense, particularly in the passing game,” said Jones in a separate univerity release. “He is consistently on the cutting edge of offensive football, and I look forward to his continued contributions to our offense here at Tennessee.
“Robert continues to demonstrate the interpersonal and organizational skills required to lead a coaching staff in attracting the highest caliber student-athlete to Tennessee. He has made tremendous contributions with his efforts in coaching our running backs and with the entire recruiting process. We know he will continue to play a significant role in our recruiting success.
“I know both will continue to make strong contributions moving forward toward our progress in returning Tennessee football to its rightful place among the nation’s elite, and I’m excited at what we can accomplish collectively as a coaching staff moving forward.”
