Bold headline: Tennessee makes a strategic move at cornerbacks, signaling a fresh approach for the secondary.
Tennessee football has announced the addition of former Virginia Tech assistant Derek Jones as the cornerbacks coach, joining head coach Josh Heupel and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on the Volunteers’ coaching staff.
Jones, who previously worked with Knowles at Duke, brings a wealth of experience coaching defensive backs and special teams. Over a decade at Duke (2008–2017), he contributed in various roles with the defensive backs and spent 10 seasons as assistant special teams coordinator, helping the Blue Devils reach six bowl appearances and secure notable milestones, including the 2013 ACC Coastal Division title and a spot in Duke’s first ACC Championship Game.
During his Duke tenure, Duke compiled a 46-32 record from 2013–2018, highlighted by three bowl victories and a school-record 10-win season in 2013. The program’s bowl successes included the 2012 Belk Bowl, Duke’s first bowl invite since 1995, and the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl, marking the Blue Devils’ first bowl win since 1961. Jones also played a role in advancing several players to the NFL through his special-teams work, such as Jamison Crowder—who earned multiple All-America honors in 2013 and 2012 and was drafted by Washington in 2015—and DeVon Edwards, who earned Walter Camp All-America recognition as a return specialist in 2013.
After his Duke years, Jones spent time as associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Texas Tech from 2020–2021 before moving to Blacksburg to join Virginia Tech.
Jones’ hiring fills the vacancy created by Michael Hunter’s departure to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams on February 10. Hunter joined Tennessee on January 2 to work with Knowles, reuniting Knowles with a former OSU and Oklahoma State assistant who had contributed to Ohio State’s national title run in 2024 and previously worked with Knowles at Oklahoma State in 2021.
Anthony Poindexter, Tennessee’s co-defensive coordinator, remains responsible for the entire Tennessee secondary.
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