KNOXVILLE – Tennessee has lost one of its top assistant coaches and recruiters in Jay Graham.
Coach Butch Jones confirmed via Twitter on Monday morning that Graham is departing from his staff and WarChant.com, a Rivals.com affiliate that covers Florida State, is reporting that he will land with FSU.
Graham was the lone holdover from former coach Derek Dooley’s staff when Jones was hired.
“I know I wanted to be here,” Graham said in December after deciding to remain at his alma mater. “It’s very important to finish what I started with this group of guys. I’m very gracious to have this opportunity.”
Graham will reportedly receive a higher salary at FSU than the $260,000 he was scheduled to make in Knoxville. Despite a strong track record of coaching and recruiting, Graham was the second-lowest paid assistant under Jones, trailing only tight ends coach/special teams coordinate Mark Elder.
Graham, who previously coached running back at UTC, Miami (Ohio) and South Carolina, played for the Vols from 1993-96, ranking sixth on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,609 career yards.
He had brief NFL stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers before his coaching career.
Daniel Lewis covers University of Tennessee athletics for Nooga.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielNooga