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Josh Heupel

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Josh Heupel
refer to caption
Heupel in 2024
Tennessee Volunteers
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1978-03-22) March 22, 1978 (age 46)
Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S.
Career information
High school:Central (Aberdeen)
College:Weber State (1996–1998)
Snow College (1998)
Oklahoma (1999–2000)
NFL draft:2001 / round: 6 / pick: 177
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Oklahoma (2004)
    Graduate assistant
  • Arizona (2005)
    Tight ends coach
  • Oklahoma (2006–2010)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Oklahoma (2011–2014)
    Co-offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Utah State (2015)
    Assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, & quarterbacks coach
  • Missouri (2016–2017)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • UCF (2018–2020)
    Head coach
  • Tennessee (2021–present)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
As player


As coach
Head coaching record
Postseason:NCAA bowls: 3–3 (.500)
Career:NCAA: 65–22 (.747)

Joshua Kenneth Heupel[1] (/ˈhaɪpəl/ HYPE-əl; born March 22, 1978) is an American college football coach and former player who is the head football coach at the University of Tennessee. Previously he was head coach at the University of Central Florida, where he compiled a 28–8 record.

Heupel played college football as a quarterback, most notably for the Oklahoma Sooners. During his playing career at Oklahoma, he was recognized as a consensus All-American, won numerous awards, and led Oklahoma to the 2000 BCS National Championship. After two years unsuccessfully trying to make an NFL roster (featuring brief stints with the Miami Dolphins and the Green Bay Packers), Heupel became a coach. He served as co-offensive coordinator for Oklahoma until January 6, 2015, when he was let go in a restructuring of the program.[2] He was named the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for the Utah State University Aggies on January 23, 2015.[3] After one season at USU, he was hired on Barry Odom's staff at Missouri, where he was the offensive coordinator before being hired for his first head coaching position at UCF. In December 2017, Heupel was named the UCF head coach.[4] On January 27, 2021, Heupel was named the 27th head coach at Tennessee.

Early life

[edit]

Heupel was born and raised in Aberdeen, South Dakota.[5] His mother, Cindy, was a high school principal, and his father, Ken, was a head football coach at Northern State University. As a child, Heupel watched game film with his father.[6]

He attended Central High School in Aberdeen, where he played high school football for the Central Golden Eagles.[7] In the second half of the first game of his sophomore season in 1994, he became the Golden Eagles' quarterback in a scaled-down version of the run and shoot offense. As a senior, he was named South Dakota's player of the year. He got recruiting inquiries from major college football programs at the universities of Houston, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, but "it seemed I was always the second or third guy on their list," according to Heupel.[6]

College career

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Heupel began his collegiate playing career at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.[8] He redshirted in 1996 and saw action in four games as a freshman in 1997, but he suffered an ACL injury during spring practice in 1998,[9] pushing him down the team's depth chart. He transferred to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where he beat out Fred Salanoa as the team's starting quarterback. Heupel passed for 2,308 yards and 28 touchdowns, despite sharing playing time with Salanoa.[10] He later held a scholarship offer from Utah State University, but committed to the University of Oklahoma after meeting with Bob Stoops, the new head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.[11]

Heupel was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2000.[12] He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.[13] He was an All-American, the AP Player of the Year, and a Walter Camp Award winner.[14][15][16] Heupel led the Sooners to an undefeated season and a national championship with a 13–2 victory over Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl.[17][18][19]

Professional career

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Heupel was drafted in the sixth round with the 177th overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.[20] Compromised by shoulder tendinitis of his throwing arm, he was relegated to fourth string for the entire preseason and failed to make the team.[21]

He was later signed by the Green Bay Packers in the early 2002 offseason but got released a month before training camp.[22][23]

Coaching career

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Assistant coaching

[edit]

Heupel spent the 2004 season as a graduate assistant for Oklahoma under head coach Bob Stoops.[24] In 2005, Heupel was hired as the tight ends coach at the University of Arizona by newly appointed head coach Mike Stoops, Bob's brother and an Oklahoma assistant coach during Heupel's playing days.[25]

Heupel became the quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma in 2006.[26] In that capacity he coached Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2008.[27][28] On December 13, 2010, Bob Stoops named Heupel and Jay Norvell as co-offensive coordinators at Oklahoma, replacing Kevin Wilson, who had accepted the head coaching job at Indiana. Stoops said Heupel would be in charge of calling offensive plays during games.[29] Heupel's contract was not renewed in January 2015 following an 8–5 season capped by a 40–6 loss to Clemson in 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl.[30][31]

Following his job at Oklahoma, Heupel served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for one season for the Utah State Aggies and as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for two seasons for the Missouri Tigers.[32][33]

Heupel prior to the 2018 AAC Championship Game.

UCF

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Heupel was named head coach of the UCF Knights on December 5, 2017, replacing the departing Scott Frost.[34] In the 2018 season, Heupel led UCF to a 12–1 record and an American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game victory.[35] The Knights appeared in the Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to LSU 40–32.[36][37]

In the 2019 season, Heupel helped lead the Knights to a 10–3 mark that culminated with a 48–25 victory over Marshall in the Gasparilla Bowl.[38][39] In the 2020 season, the Knights finished with a 6–4 record in the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season.[40] The Knights appeared in the Boca Raton Bowl and fell 49–23 to BYU.[41]

Heupel with Tennessee in 2021

Tennessee

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2021 season

[edit]

Heupel was named the 27th head coach at Tennessee on January 27, 2021.[42] In his first season with Tennessee, Heupel led the Volunteers to a Music City Bowl appearance and a final record of 7–6 (4–4 in conference).[43][44] Heupel won the Steve Spurrier first year head coach award for the second time, sharing the 2021 award with Shane Beamer.[45]

2022 season

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In his second year at Tennessee, Heupel led the Vols to a 8–0 start, their best start since 1998, defeating Pitt for the first time ever (0–3 vs the Panthers prior), breaking a five-game losing streak to their rival Florida, a five-game losing streak to conference foe LSU, and a 15-game losing streak to rival Alabama, launching the Vols back into the top 2 in the AP Poll.[46][47][48][49] On November 1, 2022, Heupel led the Vols to their first #1 ranking since 1998, in the first release of the College Football Playoffs rankings.[50] Heupel capped off the 11–2 season with a 31–14 win over the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.[51] Tennessee's 11 wins were the most for the program since 2001 and tied for the second-most in school history.[52] He won SEC Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.[53]

On January 24, 2023, ESPN reported that Tennessee had reached a contract extension agreement that will keep Heupel in Knoxville until 2029, with an annual salary of $9 million.[54]

2023 season

[edit]

In his third year at Tennessee, Heupel led the Vols to an 8–4 season, with a 4–4 record in the SEC.[55] Tennessee defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 35–0 in the Citrus Bowl to cap off the 2023 season.[56] Tennessee finished ranked #21 in the CFP final rankings.[57]

2024 season

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Heupel started off his fourth season at Tennessee with a 69–3 win over Chattanooga.[58] In the Duke's Mayo Classic, Tennessee defeated NC State 51–10.[59] In the Vols' third game, the team set a modern school record for points in a game with a 71–0 victory over Kent State.[60] In a return to Oklahoma, Heupel helped lead the Vols to a 25–15 win over the Sooners to start 4–0.[61] The Vols suffered their first setback in the fifth game against Arkansas with a 19–14 loss.[62] The Vols rebounded with a 23–17 overtime victory over Florida in the following game.[63] Tennessee defeated Alabama 24–17 in the following game.[64] Tennessee defeated Kentucky 28–18 and Mississippi State 33–14 to set up a road game against Georgia with conference title game and playoff implications on the line.[65][66] In a hard-fought game, Tennessee fell to Georgia 31–17 on the road.[67] Tennessee closed out the regular season with a 56–0 win over UTEP and a 36–23 win over Vanderbilt to finish 10–2.[68][69]

Personal life

[edit]

Heupel and his wife Dawn have a son and a daughter.[70] His sister is married to former U.S. Representative Dan Boren.[71]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference) (2018–2020)
2018 UCF 12–1 8–0 1st (East) L Fiesta† 12 11
2019 UCF 10–3 6–2 2nd (East) W Gasparilla 24 24
2020 UCF 6–4 5–3 T–3rd L Boca Raton
UCF: 28–8 19–5
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (2021–present)
2021 Tennessee 7–6 4–4 3rd (East) L Music City
2022 Tennessee 11–2 6–2 2nd (East) W Orange† 6 6
2023 Tennessee 9–4 4–4 3rd (East) W Citrus 17 17
2024 Tennessee 10–2 6–2 T–2nd
Tennessee: 37–14 20–12
Total: 65–22
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Josh Heupel – Football Coach". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Evans, Thayer (January 6, 2015). "Oklahoma lets go OC Josh Heupel after four seasons". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "Josh Heupel Named Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Utah State". Utah State Aggies Athletics. January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "Hello Heupel – UCF". UCF Athletics (Press release). December 5, 2017.
  5. ^ Carlson, Jenni (July 9, 2000). "Heupel soars with feet planted in South Dakota Portrait of Poise". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Murphy, Austin (December 25, 2000). "Norman Conquerer: Led by well-traveled Josh Heupel, an undersized but unflappable quarterback from South Dakota, Oklahoma will play for its first national championship in 15 years". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Toppmeyer, Blake (February 18, 2021). "To understand Josh Heupel the Tennessee football coach, start in Aberdeen". Aberdeen News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  8. ^ Harralson, Dan (May 8, 2021). "Dave Arslanian details Josh Heupel's competitive edge". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Collier, Scott (June 5, 2009). "Josh Heupel author of the new era for OU". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  10. ^ Joseph, Dave (December 31, 2000). "Heupel's Odyssey Hardly Average". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  11. ^ Rexrode, Joe (October 5, 2022). "Josh Heupel wants to do for Tennessee what he was supposed to do at Oklahoma". The Athletic. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  12. ^ "2000 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Consensus All-America Teams (2000–2009)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "AP Player of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Diaz, George (January 4, 2001). "OKLAHOMA BLOCKS FSU'S DRIVE FOR NO. 1". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Drehs, Wayne (September 16, 2002). "Heupel on biggest stage of his life". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  19. ^ Dienhart, Tom (December 18, 2000). "Heupel deserved Heisman; QBs are favorites in 2001 – Josh Heupel – Brief Article". CNET Networks. Business Network. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  20. ^ "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Haenchen, Brian (June 4, 2019). "Aberdeen native Josh Heupel up for College Football Hall of Fame". Argus Leader. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "Packers pick up Heupel". The Oklahoman. February 8, 2002. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "Packers cut Heupel". The Oklahoman. June 15, 2002. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  24. ^ Medina, Daniella (January 27, 2021). "Examining Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel's coaching history, resume". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  25. ^ "Josh Heupel Hired as Arizona Assistant". University of Oklahoma. January 13, 2005. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Makuch, John (January 27, 2021). "Oklahoma football: Tennessee hires Josh Heupel as head coach". Stormin in Norman. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  27. ^ Baker, Matt (July 15, 2010). "Josh Heupel happy to serve on OU staff". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  28. ^ Ray, Matt (November 15, 2022). "Josh Heupel Discusses Hendon Hooker's Heisman Candidacy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  29. ^ Hoover, John E. (December 14, 2010). "OU names co-offensive coordinators; Josh Heupel to call plays". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "2014 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  31. ^ "Russell Athletic Bowl – Oklahoma vs Clemson Box Score, December 29, 2014". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "Josh Heupel – Football Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB's – Football Coaches". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  33. ^ Harralson, Dan (January 28, 2021). "Josh Heupel's quarterbacks by the numbers". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  34. ^ "Offensive guru Heupel is named UCF coach". Tampa Bay Times. December 5, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "Memphis at UCF Box Score, December 1, 2018". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  36. ^ "2018 UCF Knights Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  37. ^ "Fiesta Bowl – LSU vs UCF Box Score, January 1, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  38. ^ "2019 UCF Knights Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  39. ^ "Gasparilla Bowl – UCF vs Marshall Box Score, December 23, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  40. ^ "2020 UCF Knights Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  41. ^ "Boca Raton Bowl – UCF vs BYU Box Score, December 22, 2020". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  42. ^ Satkowiak, Tom (January 27, 2021). "Josh Heupel Named Tennessee's 27th Head Football Coach". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  43. ^ "Music City Bowl – Tennessee vs Purdue Box Score, December 30, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  44. ^ "2021 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  45. ^ Ray, Matt (January 17, 2022). "Just In: Josh Heupel Named Co-Winner of 2021 Steve Spurrier First Year Head Coach Award". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  46. ^ Paschall, David (October 15, 2022). "With win over Bama, Vols 6–0 for first time since 1998 title season". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  47. ^ "2022 Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  48. ^ Lesar, Al (September 24, 2022). "Hooker sparks No. 11 Tennessee over No. 20 Florida, 38–33". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  49. ^ "Tennessee Breaks Drought, Downs Bama on Last-Second FG". Sports Illustrated. October 15, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  50. ^ Towers, Chip (November 1, 2022). "Georgia third, Tennessee No. 1 in first College Football Playoff rankings". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  51. ^ Reynolds, Tim (December 31, 2022). "Vols romp behind MVP Milton". Arkansas Online. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  52. ^ "Tennessee Volunteers Football Record By Year". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  53. ^ Lay, Ken (December 6, 2022). "Josh Heupel named SEC Coach of the Year". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  54. ^ Low, Chris (January 24, 2023). "Vols' Josh Heupel lands extension, raise to $9M per year". ESPN. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  55. ^ "2023 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  56. ^ Crowell, Evan (January 1, 2024). "FINAL: Tennessee Bests Iowa In Citrus Bowl, Notches First Win of Iamaleava Era". Fan Nation. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  57. ^ "2023 CFP Ranking". collegefootballplayoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  58. ^ Lesar, Al (August 31, 2024). "Iamaleava passes for 314 yards, 3 TDs in first half as No. 15 Tennessee beats Chattanooga 69-3". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  59. ^ Lay, Ken (September 7, 2024). "Tennessee defeats North Carolina State in Duke's Mayo Classic". Vols Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  60. ^ Sparks, Adam (September 14, 2024). "Tennessee football smashes school records in 71-0 win over Kent State". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  61. ^ Brunt, Cliff (September 22, 2024). "Josh Heupel wins in return to Oklahoma as No. 6 Tennessee tops the Sooners 25-15". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  62. ^ Lay, Ken (October 6, 2024). "Arkansas upsets No. 4 Tennessee". Vols Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  63. ^ Lesar, Al (October 13, 2024). "Dylan Sampson has 1-yard TD run in OT to lift No. 8 Tennessee past Florida, 23-17". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  64. ^ Lesar, Al (October 19, 2024). "Sampson scores twice, Iamaleava overcomes early struggles in Tennessee's 24-17 victory over Alabama". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  65. ^ Smith, Craig T. (November 3, 2024). "Tennessee gets past Kentucky 28-18". Rocky Top Talk. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  66. ^ Vannini, Chris (November 10, 2024). "Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava exits with injury, but coach expects him to play vs. Georgia". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  67. ^ Newberry, Paul (November 17, 2024). "Beck throws for 2 TDs, runs for another to lead No. 11 Georgia past No. 6 Tennessee 31-17". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  68. ^ "Sampson Breaks 95-Year-Old School Records As #11 Vols Blank UTEP, 56-0". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. November 23, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  69. ^ Walker, Teresa M. (November 30, 2024). "No. 7 Tennessee gives up 1st 14 points before rallying to rout Vanderbilt 36-23". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  70. ^ "School Bio: Josh Heupel". Sooner Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  71. ^ Tramel, Berry (December 12, 2012). "Oklahoma football: Should Josh Heupel have gone to Louisiana Tech?". NewsOK.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
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