Say Goodbye to the Rock

Tennessee hiring NFL strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson

By Mike Griffith

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee is finalizing the hiring of Rock Gullickson as strength and conditioning coach, according to sources within the Vols’ program.

Gullickson, formerly of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, has been at the top of UT’s list since November. When Los Angeles fired head coach Jeff Fisher in December, Butch Jones’ top target became more of a reality.

The outgoing status of Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart, who announced his pending retirement in August, is not expected to complicate the hiring process for Gullickson.

Gullickson has been an NFL strength coach since 2000 with the New Orleans Saints, and from there, he became the NFL Strength Coach of the Year in 2007 as voted by his peers while working with the Green Bay Packers before being hired by the Rams in 2009.

The Tennessee offseason conditioning program came into question this season after the Vols got off to a sluggish start, particularly on the offensive line.

Tennessee also sustained an uncharacteristically high number of injuries, with only four position players staying healthy enough to start every game this season.

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