Report: Tennessee assistant Jerry Mack set to join Jacksonville Jaguars as running backs coach
An assistant for the Tennessee Volunteers is ending his time in Knoxville, moving on to the NFL for an opportunity in the AFC South.
According to Matt Zenitz, Volunteers running backs coach Jerry Mack is taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars, assuming the same position with the NFL franchise as he had with Tennessee.
“The Jacksonville #Jaguars are set to hire University of Tennessee’s Jerry Mack as their new running backs coach, sources tell @247sports . Helped Tennessee rank No. 1 in rushing last season. Was previously the OC at Rice and a head coach at North Carolina Central,” Zenitz posted on X.
Mack has been on staff at Tennessee since 2021. This past season, he had three backs rush for at least 475 yards as the Vols finished with a 9-4 (4-4) record. Tennessee averaged 204.8 rushing yards per game.
Jaylen Wright led the way for the Vols, rushing for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
With Mack now heading to the Jaguars, he’s slated to coach a backfield that is led by former Clemson star Travis Etienne. We’ll see if he can get the best out of the former first round selection.
Moreover, Mack is a Memphis native who started his college football playing career at Jackson State, before transferring to Arkansas State and lettering three years.
The 43-year-old got into coaching in 2004 and has an impressive resume, which includes being the head coach at North Carolina Central from 2014-17. During those four years, NC Central went 31-15 (26-6) and had a winning record each season.
Mack left North Carolina Central for Rice in December of 2017. He was named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Owls. Mack stayed on staff with Rice through the 2020 season, before being hired at Tennessee.
Now, Jerry Mack will be looking to take his career to the next level, and continue to exceed in coaching running backs on the football field. He’ll carry the lessons he’s learned in Knoxville to Jacksonville, where he’ll hope to help the Jaguars to continued success in 2024 and beyond.