KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has hired former NFL strength coach Rock Gullickson as its director of strength and conditioning.
Vols coach Butch Jones said In a release Tuesday that he has "personally known Rock for more than 20 years and know what he stands for as a coach and a person."
Gullickson said their history goes back to 1990 at Rutgers, where he was working as head strength coach while Jones was a graduate assistant. Gullickson was part of Jones' wedding party.
"I want to help him achieve his goals, the University of Tennessee football's goals and help these kids win a championship," Gullickson said.
In addition to his football duties, Gullickson will oversee strength and conditioning for all 20 of the school's sports programs. Gullickson, 61, agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $375,000 annually.
Gullickson most recently was head strength coach of the Los Angeles Rams, a position he held for eight years dating to when the franchise was in St. Louis.
He also worked for the New Orleans Saints (2000-05) and Green Bay Packers (2006-08). Gullickson has spent 22 seasons with college programs, including stints at Rutgers (1990-92), Texas (1993-97) and Louisville (1998-99).