UTK’s Josh Heupel Named Co-Winner Of 2021 Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award

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Josh Heupel. Photo: Andrew Ferguson/University of Tennessee

After a successful first season with the University of Tennessee, head football coach Josh Heupel has been named co-winner of the 2021 Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award.

Heupel, who previously won the award in 2018 while at UCF, is sharing this year’s award with South Carolina’s Shane Beamer.

“Well there are two coaches this year because they are both very deserving,” says Spurrier. “Preseason, their teams were picked next to Vandy at the bottom of the league, 12 and 13, but instead of gloom and doom they took their players and improved every game and both finished 7-6.”

The Volunteers were coming off a 3-7 record a year ago when they were picked to finish fifth in the SEC East standings in Heupel’s debut season. However, Tennessee won three of their final four regular season games, secured third place in the SEC East with a 4-4 mark, and posted seven victories to secure a bowl berth while playing one of college football’s toughest schedules. UT was one of only four squads to face both College Football Playoff title game participants.

Heupel led Tennessee to huge strides this season, shattering eight single-season team records under his watch, including points (511), total offensive yards (6,174), touchdowns (67), point after touchdowns made (67), total first downs (316), rushing first downs (164), fewest interceptions thrown (3), and passing efficiency (167.10). Heupel is one of only five Vol head coaches in the last 80 years to win seven or more games in his first season.

He helped develop graduate transfer Hendon Hooker to have the best season of his college career, setting single-season school records for completion percentage (68.0) and passing efficiency (181.41). Hooker also led the SEC and ranked third nationally in passing efficiency.

Heupel’s Volunteers return to Neyland Stadium to kickoff the 2022 season against Ball State on Sept. 3.

Steven Boero
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