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Tennessee agrees to extensions with OC Joey Halzle, Kelsey Pope

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater4 hours agosamdg_33

Tennessee has already made some notable staff changes on the defensive side of the ball going into the offseason. However, more news has come out of Knoxville, as two key members of the offensive staff are now being extended by the Volunteers.

According to On3’s Chris Low, Joey Halzle, Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, and Kelsey Pope, the Volunteers’ wide receivers coach, have each signed extensions to remain on Rocky Top. Each has agreed to sign on two-year deals to remain on staff under Josh Heupel.

“Tennessee has signed OC Joey Halzle and WR coach Kelsey Pope to new two-year deals,” Low posted on Friday afternoon. “Pope is adding pass game coordinator to his duties. He received interest from several other SEC schools. Halzle will make $1.45 million annually and Pope $825,000 in 2026 and $850,000 in 2027.”

Halzle has been on staff for five seasons at Tennessee, originally being the Volunteers’ quarterbacks coach before being promoted and being the team’s offensive coordinator the last three years. He has been on staff under Heupel before at other stops, including Missouri, Utah State, and Oklahoma, going back to 2019 when he was still the head coach at UCF.

Pope has been on staff for five seasons as well at Tennessee for the duration of the tenure under Heupel. He has earned credit for that success on offense, namely in the passing game, with him having coached names at receiver like Cedric Tillman, Velus Jones Jr., Jalin Hyatt, Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton, Squirrel White, Dont’e Thornton, Chris Brazzell, Braylon Staley, or Mike Matthews.

These come a few days after Tennessee made a massive change at defensive coordinator with the hiring of Jim Knowles. After firing Tim Banks earlier in the week, Knowles — one of the most highly-regarded defensive coordinators in the country — will now next be at Tennessee.

Tennessee has routinely had one of the best offenses in the nation so far under Heupel. Two of the biggest pieces of that will now continue to be on staff.