Stripling steps away; Vols D-Line turns into Brady's Bunch

The long expected news regarding the arrival of Brady Hoke to Tennessee's staff is official. Tennessee announced the hire of Hoke and re-assignment of Steve Stripling on Wednesday.

Having been a coach for a part of five decades, Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling is stepping away from his every day duties as an assistant coach and taking a different position within the Tennessee football program, according to multiple sources. Head coach Butch Jones has his defensive line successor lined up. Stepping in will be the veteran Hoke.

Hoke spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Oregon and was not retained by new Duck head coach Willie Taggert.

On Tuesday, Stripling moved his office down the hallway and helped Hoke get settled into his new office and defensive line room.

For the last four years, Stripling has provided stability to the defensive line when it needed it in the worst way. He became the sixth defensive line coach in as many years before he began his four year run on Rocky Top in December of 2012. During his time, Tennessee was more than solid along the defensive line. Even this year, when decimated by injury, one of his lineman, Derek Barnett set the career record for sacks.

Hoke will serve as a great resource to not only Bob Shoop but also head coach Butch Jones. Hoke has been a head coach at three different stops; Ball State, San Diego State and Michigan, where he went 31-20 in four seasons. Before his head coaching career took off, Hoke was the defensive line coach for the Wolverines and was responsible for landing Tom Brady.

He eventually worked his way into the associate head coach title, before becoming the head coach at Ball State. Hoke has been applauded not only as a position coach, but also as a recruiter. In fact, many who cover Michigan have noted how much easier the job was for Jim Harbaugh because of the roster he inherited from Hoke.

For Stripling 2017 will mark the first time since he became a graduate assistant at Colorado in 1977 that he will not be on the sidelines. Stripling has spent the last nine years with Jones as his defensive line coach and has been the associate or assistant head coach.

Stripling in an administrative role is no longer under contract. Hoke has a two year contract that pays him $500,000 annually.