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Tennessee fires Butch Jones

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones yells from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Credit: Jeff Roberson

Credit: Jeff Roberson

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones yells from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
By Associated Press
Nov 12, 2017

Tennessee has fired coach Butch Jones with two games left in a regular season in which the Volunteers started ranked but are now still winless in the Southeastern Conference.

Vols athletic director John Currie said Sunday in a release that "unfortunately, we are not where we need to be competitively. For that reason, I have asked Coach Jones to step down as head football coach."

Sports Illustrated first reported Jones was out.

Jones went 34-27 overall and 14-24 in the SEC over five seasons. He led the Vols to bowl victories each of the last three years before the program took a giant step backward this fall.

The Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC) have dropped five of their last six games, including a 50-17 loss to Missouri on Saturday.

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