UTM's Defensive Coordinator Polizzi departs, replaced by Butcher as DC. Excitement builds as Butcher takes charge for upcoming challenges.
Written By
Michael Terril
Contributor, Recruiting Analyst
Written By
Michael Terril
Contributor, Recruiting Analyst
In the ever changing landscape of college football. Head Coaches, Coordinators, Coaches come and go. When a coordinator or coaching vacancy arises the head coach is tasked with finding a suitable replacement.
It was reported on Tuesday morning that Tulsa Head Coach Kevin Wilson has hired Tennesse-Martin’s Defensive Coordinator Chris Polizzi.
Polizzi who served as the Defensive Coordinator at UTM since being promoted to the position before the 2020 season. Before gaining the Defensive Coordinator position, Polizzi was promoted to the Assistant Head Coach/Secondary Coach in 2019. He served as all three after gaining the new position. Polizzi lead the defense, while UTM won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles in 2021 and 2022.
On Tuesday afternoon FootballScoop reported that defensive run-game coordinator/linebacker coach Brandon Butcher has been promoted to the now vacant coordinator position.
Jason Simpson, who has become accustomed to replacing coaches over the years, wasted no time making the move. Butcher began his college coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant and student assistant at East Carolina from 2014-16. Where he served as the Offensive Scout Team Coordinator and also worked with the defensive linemen and
outside linebackers.
In 2016 Butcher served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater
Coastal Carolina where he served as a defensive graduate assistant
and defensive analyst where he worked with safeties and linebackers
until 2019.
Before joining UT Martin, Butcher served as an assistant coach at
Southern Miss working with the nickels following a stint as a defensive analyst and defensive graduate assistant with the Golden Eagles from
2019-20.
Before the 2020 season Bucher joined the UTM coaching staff. Prior
to being promoted to the Run-Game Coordinator in 2020, he has
served as the Linebackers Coach and also held special teams
responsibilities.
Brandon will begin his Coordinator in game duties when the Skyhawks
travel to Athens Georgia to take on the Two Time FBS National
Champions the Georgia Bulldogs on September second.
