Tennessee Football's Passing Game Coordinator Kelsey Pope Outlines New Role

Pope discusses his expanded responsibilities overseeing the Vols' passing attack.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angle view of a Tennessee football practice, with players, coaches, and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant orange and white colors.Tennessee's passing game coordinator Kelsey Pope aims to maximize the team's deep and talented receiving corps through innovative play design.Knoxville Today

Tennessee football wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope has been given the additional title of passing game coordinator this offseason. In this new role, Pope will be responsible for developing new passing concepts and strategies to take advantage of the team's talented receiving corps, which includes standouts like Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley.

Why it matters

As the Vols look to build on a successful 2025 campaign, Pope's elevated position will be crucial in maximizing the potential of Tennessee's passing game. His ability to scheme up creative plays and get the most out of the team's deep receiving unit could be a key factor in the team's offensive success.

The details

In his new role, Pope will work closely with head coach Josh Heupel to devise passing game strategies and concepts that highlight the diverse skill sets of Tennessee's receivers. With several tall, fast targets at his disposal, Pope plans to find new ways to expose defenses and take advantage of the team's athletic advantage.

  • Kelsey Pope was given the passing game coordinator title this offseason.

The players

Kelsey Pope

Tennessee's wide receivers coach who was promoted to passing game coordinator this offseason.

Josh Heupel

Tennessee's head football coach who gave Pope the additional title.

Mike Matthews

A starting wide receiver for the Vols who will be a key part of the passing game.

Braylon Staley

The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year at wide receiver for Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“It's a cool title, but I'm just still doing the same things. I'm trying to invest every day. I'm trying to come up with new ways for us to use certain skill sets that we have, like we've got a lot of different skill sets in the building now than what we're used to.”

— Kelsey Pope, Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach

What’s next

As spring practices continue, Pope and the Tennessee coaching staff will work to implement new passing game concepts that maximize the team's offensive talent ahead of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Kelsey Pope's promotion to passing game coordinator signals Tennessee's commitment to developing a dynamic passing attack that can take advantage of the team's deep and talented receiving corps. His ability to scheme up creative plays and get the most out of the Vols' skill position players could be a key factor in the team's offensive success in 2026 and beyond.