McKenzie Milton Joins Tennessee Coaching Staff
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The Tennessee Volunteers have been adamant about adding quality members to their coaching staff since head coach Josh Heupel joined the program. They signed former NFL defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. as a defensive analyst earlier this offseason and now pivoted to the offensive side of the football for their next hire.
The program announced the official hiring of former UCF and Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton on Thursday. Milton is one of the most recognizable faces in college football over the past decade. He led the UCF Golden Knights to a 27-6 record in his three seasons of starting action. Milton and Heupel teamed up in 2018 and immediately found success, going 11-0 during the regular season. Milton finished sixth in Heisman voting that season, backing up his eight place finish in 2017. He suffered a devastating injury during the 2018 season and didn't play football for over 1,000 days. He transferred to Florida State after Heupel left for Rocky Top and led a heroic comeback in the 2021 season opener against Notre Dame, though the Seminoles lost the game in overtime.
While Milton's playing resume is excellent, there's more to this hire than collegiate accolades. He's 25 years old and has a passion for coaching. Milton won games with his mind at the college level, mainly because he had to - he only stands 5-11 and 192 pounds. This is someone who could work their way up in the program with a strong few seasons. Heupel seemed pleased at the news, stating, "McKenzie represents everything that is great about college football. His perseverance, determination, and leadership are attributes that made him successful as a player and will no doubt translate to him being an outstanding future coach. He's always been a student of the game and understands the why behind what we do. We are thrilled to welcome McKenzie, Jany, and Madden to Rocky Top." Milton also issued a statement about the news, sharing that "I couldn't be more excited about starting my coaching career at Tennessee and reuniting with Coach Heupel. I am grateful to Coach Heupel and Director of Athletics Danny White for giving me this opportunity. Their leadership makes a difference. I look forward to helping the program in any way I can."
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