Tennessee Football Coach Josh Heupel Turns 48

The Vols' sixth-year head coach celebrates his birthday on March 22, 2026.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:18pm

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Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel is celebrating his 48th birthday on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Heupel, a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota, is the ninth-youngest head coach in the SEC and 63rd youngest active head coach in the FBS. Before becoming a successful college football coach, Heupel was a standout quarterback, leading Oklahoma to a national title in 2000 and being named the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

Why it matters

Heupel has been instrumental in reviving the Tennessee football program, leading the Vols to the College Football Playoffs in 2024 and earning multiple wins over rivals Alabama and Florida. As one of the youngest and most promising coaches in the SEC, his birthday milestone is a notable event for the Tennessee fanbase.

The details

Heupel began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 2004 before working his way up to become the Sooners' co-offensive coordinator from 2011-14. After a stint at Utah State and Missouri, he landed the head coaching job at UCF in 2018, compiling a 28-8 record over three seasons. In 2021, he was hired as the head coach at Tennessee, where he has put together a 45-20 record over the past five seasons, including two wins over Alabama and three over Florida.

  • Josh Heupel is celebrating his 48th birthday on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Josh Heupel

The 48-year-old head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who has led the program to the College Football Playoffs and multiple wins over rivals Alabama and Florida during his six-year tenure.

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What they’re saying

“Happy Birthday, @coachjoshheupel! 🥳#GBO 🍊”

— Tennessee Football

The takeaway

Josh Heupel's birthday milestone is a testament to his success in reviving the Tennessee football program, as the 48-year-old coach continues to lead the Vols to new heights and cement his status as one of the brightest young minds in college football.