RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesFormer Tennessee assistant football coach Mike Ekeler was hired at USC in February. He serves as the Trojans ' special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
Ekeler was the Vols' outside linebackers and special teams coordinator from 2021-24 under Josh Heupel .
Fifth-year USC head coach Lincoln Riley took part in Big Ten media days on Tuesday at Hilton Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He discussed hiring Ekeler to his coaching staff for the 2026 season.
"Coach Ekeler was a great addition," Riley said. "Somebody whose career I followed. We've worked either with or for several of the same people. I feel like I knew him pretty well. He has a special teams track record that is up there in terms of any other coordinator in the country. Yeah, his energy, his attention to detail, I think his emphasis on the fundamentals and how he teaches that is very unique.
"It was just something that fit for our program, from our special teams fit, from him also being involved in coaching our linebackers. I think it was a huge addition for us. Special teams are certainly, obviously, a huge part of any championship team. With the roster we've built, we feel like we have a chance to be very, very good there across the board. A guy like that, I think makes you better the day he walked in the door. We certainly felt that energy, excitement and expertise up to this point."
Ekeler departed Tennessee for Nebraska in 2025. He served as the Cornhuskers' special teams coordinator.
Ekeler was also at USC in 2013 as the Trojans' linebackers coach.
More: Greg Sankey announces SEC media days are returning to Tennessee
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Lincoln Riley details hiring former Tennessee football assistant coach
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