Report: Tennessee parts ways with running backs coach Robert Gillespie

BMF

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Report: Tennessee parts ways with running backs coach Robert Gillespie

https://www.seccountry.com/tennesse...rts-ways-running-backs-coach-robert-gillespie

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is going to have a new vacancy to fill.

According to Volquest.com, the Vols have parted ways with running backs coach Robert Gillespie, leaving Pruitt to begin the search for a new assistant immediately.

Gillespie had been the running backs coach at Tennessee since 2013. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach — while maintaining his role coaching running backs — in 2015. However, Gillespie was going back to serving solely as running backs coach in 2018.

Prior to his time at Tennessee, Gillespie was the running backs coach at West Virginia from 2011-12. He also served as running backs coach at South Carolina (2006-08) and Oklahoma State (2009-10).

Gillespie was a running back at Florida from 1998-01. He rushed for 1,854 career yards and ranks second in program history in career receptions (96) and career receiving yards (1,091) by a running back.

Gillespie briefly played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins (2002-03) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2003).

During his time with the Vols, Gillespie coached top running backs such as John Kelly and Alvin Kamara.

Gillespie’s tenure at Tennessee began at the same time as former head coach Butch Jones, who was fired during the 2017 season and replaced by Pruitt.
 

Gatorraid81

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They, like everyone else, waits until after National Signing Day to make these changes. Not UF, which I will never understand.
 

Windy City Gator

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I still associate him with falling down at the 3 yd line, untouched going into the endzone in 98 against toothless
 
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BMF

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Speculating that Chris Weinke is going to replace Gillespie as RB's coach:

 

rogdochar

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Wherever Gillespie goes, they're gonna make him dump any bricks out of his dufflebag.
 

BMF

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Tennessee announces hiring of Chris Weinke as new RB coach.

Apparently Gillespie was not happy about - essentially - being fired. So this wasn't a "mutual decision":

Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer sheds light on Robert Gillespie's sudden departure from program

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/t...t-robert-gillespies-sudden-departure-program/

According to Tennessee Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer, who spoke at the Big Orange Tipoff Club on Wednesday, Gillespie didn’t appear to know the move was coming. Here’s what Fulmer had to say about the matter at the event.

“This is a big boy’s business,” Fulmer said, according to Mike Wilson of KnoxNews.com. “He understood. He was very professional. We talked yesterday. It was simply a matter of Coach Pruitt doing what he thought was right for his program and Robert.

“Robert was fine. Robert is okay. He didn’t like it, I’m not saying that. But he’s okay. He understood. It’s a big boy business.”

Judging by those statements, it doesn’t appear Gillespie wanted to leave Tennessee, but that Pruitt decided to attempt to upgrade his coaching staff with another coach. Former ASA College head coach Joe Osovet announced he was joining Tennessee’s staff Wednesday. However, he is taking an off-the-field role with the program and will not be replacing Gillespie’s running backs position.
 

TheDouglas78

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Tennessee announces hiring of Chris Weinke as new RB coach.

Apparently Gillespie was not happy about - essentially - being fired. So this wasn't a "mutual decision":

Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer sheds light on Robert Gillespie's sudden departure from program

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/t...t-robert-gillespies-sudden-departure-program/

According to Tennessee Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer, who spoke at the Big Orange Tipoff Club on Wednesday, Gillespie didn’t appear to know the move was coming. Here’s what Fulmer had to say about the matter at the event.

“This is a big boy’s business,” Fulmer said, according to Mike Wilson of KnoxNews.com. “He understood. He was very professional. We talked yesterday. It was simply a matter of Coach Pruitt doing what he thought was right for his program and Robert.

“Robert was fine. Robert is okay. He didn’t like it, I’m not saying that. But he’s okay. He understood. It’s a big boy business.”

Judging by those statements, it doesn’t appear Gillespie wanted to leave Tennessee, but that Pruitt decided to attempt to upgrade his coaching staff with another coach. Former ASA College head coach Joe Osovet announced he was joining Tennessee’s staff Wednesday. However, he is taking an off-the-field role with the program and will not be replacing Gillespie’s running backs position.

Chris Weinke the quarterback as RB coach, I thought he was coaching QB's in the NFL or he was.
 

BMF

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Chris Weinke the quarterback as RB coach, I thought he was coaching QB's in the NFL or he was.

Well, he has aspirations for bigger things. He interviewed last year w/ Butch for the OC job. So, this is probably a one or two year thing for him and he'll move on.
 

TheDouglas78

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Well, he has aspirations for bigger things. He interviewed last year w/ Butch for the OC job. So, this is probably a one or two year thing for him and he'll move on.

Just sounds like a demotion, he was a qb coach in the NFL, now a runningbacks coach for the cousinfckers.
 

GatorShea

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These kind of moves make their whole Pruitt movement sound even dumber. I hope these guys get so stoked about imagining results that they go into a meltdown the size that we haven't seen yet when things don't pan out with their new "savior".
 

Durfish

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Personally I think Weinke has a bright future, but is this really the right time to take on a "project coach"? The personal upside for Weinke is massive in this move (one more check mark for OC jobs...hell, it he times it right he might just slide in to an OC job at his alma mater after Willie gets fired in three years), but is he really ready to coach up some RBs to play against SEC caliber defenses?

I also can see the desire to cut out the remaining prior regime (we did it, too). So I have no problem with them jettisoning Gillespie. I just think the follow-on move is, well, suspect.
 

Double Gator Dad

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Given that he was about 35 when he won the Heisman, how old is Weinke Dink these days? 50? 55?

Not sure how he can help recruiting when he won a Heisman more than 15 years ago while playing a different position but clearly UT know exactly what they are doing.
 

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