Harmon, Riley join Mocs staff
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coaching staff, nearly depleted by departures during the offseason, is now almost whole again.
Friday, Mocs coach Rodney Allison said he has hired J.C. Harmon as the new offensive line coach and Spencer Riley as the tight ends coach. That leaves only one defensive vacancy left to be filled on a staff that returns just three assistants from last season.
Harmon spent the past two seasons at South Carolina State, where he coached fullbacks and tight ends. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Fork Union Military Academy. Harmon has also had stints at Michigan State and with the Richmond Speed of the AF2 arena league.
"This offensive line job, it's a pretty serious position; you've got to make sure you've got somebody you feel like can develop young guys," Allison said. "We've got young guys that need fundamental (instruction), so that was very important in this and we felt very comfortable with him. We did, probably, a six- or seven-hour interview. This wasn't just sit down and ask a question; this was pretty extensive."
Although spring practice begins March 26, Allison said he refused to rush to replace John Turner, who left UTC earlier this month to be the offensive line coach at South Alabama.
"We ended up bringing in six, maybe seven (candidates for interviews); that's the reason it took so long - we wanted to make sure we found the right guy," Allison said.
Riley, from New Market, was a four-year starter at Tennessee and a captain on the Volunteers' 1998 national championship team. He was the offensive line coach at Division II West Georgia the past two seasons.
"I've known about Spencer and followed Spencer for a long time," Allison said. "His brother (Matt, the head strength coach at Middle Tennessee State), I've known for probably 20 years. He was the strength coach at Southern Miss when I was there, so I've known about Spencer and I've seen him grow up.
"I think he's a young, up-and-coming coach, and I think he'll be a nice addition."
Allison said the fact Riley helped win a national championship at Tennessee wasn't a deciding factor in his hiring, but it was significant.
"You know, an offensive lineman that's won a national championship and gone into coaching, he knows what it takes and the work ethic involved up front and at tight end," Allison said.
Riley replaces Bradford Banta, who left UTC after one season to be the assistant special teams coach with the Detroit Lions. The Mocs' final opening should be filled next week, Allison said.

