Win Some, Lose Some: Vols Keeping DC Justin Wilcox

By Joel Barker (Tennessee Featured Columnist) on December 31, 2010

Justin Wilcox

According to multiple news reports, Tennessee defensive coordinator, Justin Wilcox will not be going to Texas as rumors suggested just two weeks ago.

According to Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Wilcox told people in the Tennessee program he was not going to Texas.

Wilcox has been considered a rising star in the assistant coach ranks since his days as the coordinator of Boise State's stingy defense.

Wilcox did a good job with limited resources in his first season in Knoxville. Once Tennessee is back at anything that resembles full strength, the young defensive coordinator should show everyone why Texas reportedly wanted him.




According to Austin Ward of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Wilcox actually withdrew his name from consideration for the Texas coordinator position.

Obviously, this is a huge keep for head coach Derek Dooley. While staff turnover is usually unavoidable, keeping a staff intact for January, the biggest recruiting month of the season, cannot be understated.

On Friday evening, Wilcox told the Knoxville News Sentinel, “I believe 100 percent in what Coach Dooley is doing here, the direction of the program and we’ve still got a lot of work to do."
He added, "It’s going the right way, and I think all of us are committed to doing it the right way. That’s where we’re headed."

This decision should give the Tennessee program some much needed momentum heading into 2011—especially after the Music City Bowl debacle that left the Vols with a losing record for 2010.