Under the Radar: Veteran Canales proving to be right coach for the job

He wasn't the big name that some fans coveted to be the quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee. He didn't come with the fanfare like other new assistants hired by Butch Jones this offseason, but Mike Canales has continued to prove he was the perfect person and coach for the job.

"I've coached pro-style to multiple to spread and have that in my background," Canales said. "It's knowing how to handle the situations. I think that was real important in the hire that coach Jones made at the quarterback position. The quarterback coach has be to be able to have some background and history coaching all three styles of play."

Canales has a talented room with both Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano battling it out to be the starter come September 4th against Georgia Tech. His diversity in terms of coaching styles and experience proves very valuable in this competition.

"It's being able to take their strengths and playing to it," Canales said. "Being able to fit what we want to do into our system. It's nice that we have guys that are different. We don't want the same type of kid to be cardboard box skill sets and personalities.

"With Quinten he's a little more quiet and stoic. He's a little more reserved and doesn't come out of his shell a lot unless he has too. I've watched his development now that Josh (Dobbs) has moved on to the National Football League. What a great opportunity he had to watch Josh the last few years.... With Jarrett, he's a little bit more outgoing. He has that personality that just glows. He loves football and they all do in that room. They are all different in their makeup and personality."

Canales has opened his doors several times since arriving on Rocky Top for his quarterbacks to come over and have a meal and bond.

One of the big reasons that Canales beat out other seasoned quarterback coaches was a prior relationship with new offensive coordinator Larry Scott. The two have known each other since Scott's playing days at South Florida and Canales' ability to leave an impact helped his impact with his new spot.

"Every young person, especially in sports is touched by someone," Scott said. "Chico as I call him always left that impression. He was my offensive coordinator as a player and then our quarterbacks coach and I remember how he made us feel as players with how he does things. We have always kept in touch with through the years. That relationship has always stayed in contact. To have someone that you trust and someone that is a good leader of men was important to me especially at that position with where we are going in a different direction."

Canales has been relentless in recruiting for the Vols. He spent most of the spring flying all over the United States searching out some of the best signal-callers for the 2018 class. He was able to gain commitments from Michael Penix Jr. and Adrian Martinez, both highly coveted passers. He's also done a really good job with the future 2019 and 2020 classes in terms of getting prospects to campus early and often.

"When I first got here it was like we have these 2018 kids we want you to evaluate and I don't think I slept much the first week or two," Canales said.

"One of the things I do with the quarterbacks I talk to is I have a 50 question deal that I ask each and everyone of them. The questions vary from what shoes do you like to what did you do last Friday night? I want to get to know these kids on a different level. More so than just how is football going and I think you are special and really neat. I want to find a niche you get my foot in the door and when I get my foot in the door I'm coming full go."

And that niche can be as simple as taking his backpack and taking pictures of it in different locations and then throwing it on social media.

"What sets me a part from everyone else? I know the things that I did with the quarterbacks we have are something other quarterback coaches aren't doing. I know that for a fact because I asked everyone of them. Just an ability to get them on the phone and some of the things we asked them. Then the bag took off a little more than I thought it was going too, but it was something that was a different niche. It's something recruits want to know. Where you going today coach? Obviously it helps when you have the Power T setting your chest."

Canales exited the podium on Friday and was greeted by former Vol quarterback Bobby Scott. The two shared a nice exchange and the man they call 'Chico' made a point to tell Scott that it's his privilege to coach this position at this University — proving that sometimes the biggest name isn't the best name to get you where you want to go.