Tennessee expected to hire Alec Abeln as tight ends coach

Tennessee is expected to hire Alec Abeln as tight ends coach, sources tell On3.

Abeln has worked at Tennessee as an analyst since 2021 after previously working at Ole Miss. He was an offensive lineman at Missouri when Josh Heupel was Mizzou’s OC.

As a player at Missouri, Abeln made nine career starts, including six as a senior in 2016.

Tennessee had the tight ends coach opening from Alex Golesh leaving for the head coaching job at USF. Golesh was the Vols’ offensive coordinator and tight ends coach the last two seasons.

It will be the third time in the last year that Josh Heupel has promoted from within for an on-field spot at Tennessee. The previous internal promotions were Joey Halzle from QB coach to OC in January and Kelsey Pope from analyst to wide receivers coach last year.