Lyle Allen “Butch” Jones was introduced as Tennessee’s 24th head football coach on December 2012. He previously coached at Cincinnati from 2010 to 2012 and Central Michigan University (CMU) from 2007 to 2009. A Michigan native, he played college football at Ferris State University. His record as a head coach was 50-27 (.649). The charismatic Jones began immediately to gather enthusiasm and support for the football team, announcing that the program would be rebuilt “brick by brick.”
Jones was fired November 2017 in the middle of his fifth coaching season.