Jones said if you want to be the best, you've got to compete against the best, and that's why he wanted to coach in the SEC.
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee coach Butch Jones believes he knows what it takes to revitalize a program that has fallen upon hard times, even though he didn't face that challenge at either of his two previous stops.
Jones is just over a week away from starting his first spring practice at Tennessee, which fired Derek Dooley last November.
After going 50-27 in six seasons at Central Michigan (2007-09) and Cincinnati (2010-12), Jones may have the toughest job of any new coach.
The Volunteers finished 5-7 last fall for their third consecutive losing season, the first time that's happened at Tennessee since 1909-11.
That's a new situation for Jones, who inherited winning teams at Central Michigan and Cincinnati. Jones believes his staff can turn things around at Tennessee once they establish a winning culture.