KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee coach Derek Dooley has hired Sam Pittman to coach the Volunteers' offensive line.
The Vols announced Thursday night Pittman would replace Harry Hiestand, who is expected to join coach Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame.
Pittman, who was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation by ESPN.com, has spent the past five seasons as the offensive line coach at North Carolina and was named the Tar Heels associate head coach in 2011.
Behind the Tar Heels' offensive line, North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard averaged 101.8 yards per game in 2011 and quarterback Bryn Renner led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing efficiency.
Pittman played defensive end at Pittsburg State in Kansas and has also coached at Northern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Western Michigan, Oklahoma and Cincinnati.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
