Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
The National Championship win was only hours old, and celebrations were still ongoing when Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that Tennessee was expected to hire Indiana’s Derek Owings as its new head strength and conditioning coach, a role that will carry the title Director of Football Sports Performance.
Josh Heupel and Tennessee have already made several impressive offseason hires, but the addition of Derek Owings may be the most significant yet. The program didn’t just bring him to Knoxville—it made a statement, reportedly making Owings the highest-paid strength and conditioning coach in the country at $1.2 million per year, per CBS Sports.
Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza credits Owings as a key factor in his development, particularly through an offseason program that added nearly 20 pounds to his frame and established a weekly weigh-in goal of 225 pounds. For a Tennessee team aiming to become tougher and more physically imposing, Owings will be tasked with overseeing a program-wide shift in mindset and preparation.
Joining Owings will be Josh Huff, widely regarded as the “science” behind recent player transformations, and Carl Miller, a respected specialist in developing offensive and defensive linemen.
Tennessee enters a critical offseason that will lead into an even more consequential season. In response, Josh Heupel and the administration have shown they understand the stakes—and are taking deliberate, calculated steps to meet them.
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