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Tennessee Hires Indiana Champion Derek Owings as Strength Coach in $1.2 Million Deal

The three-year contract, confirmed by Knox News, is expected to make him the nation’s top-paid strength coach.

Overview

  • Knox News reports Owings agreed to about $1.2 million per year on a three-year deal, with Tennessee set to announce the hire and release contract terms today.
  • The move comes less than a day after Indiana’s 27-21 national championship win, and Owings is expected to arrive in Knoxville on Tuesday.
  • Owings replaces Kurt Schmidt, a nine-year Heupel colleague who was not retained as his contract neared its Jan. 31 expiration.
  • He helped elevate Indiana under Curt Cignetti and previously worked with Josh Heupel as an assistant strength coach at UCF in 2018.
  • Tennessee more than doubled the role’s prior pay from Schmidt’s $475,000, making Owings the staff’s No. 3 earner as Heupel seeks improved team physicality.