University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Questions With Mike DeBord
November 11, 2015 | Football
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
Mike DeBord brings over 30 years of coaching experience to his job as offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee. In this week’s edition of Five Questions, we discover that while it is advisable to have him run your offense, you most certainly should not ask him to help you build that new deck you’re thinking about putting in.
1. What has been your proudest moment in coaching?
A: It’s hard to say what my proudest moment is in coaching because I’ve had so many. That’s why I’ve coached so long is because I’ve had those moments and continue to have those moments. It’s what coaching is all about.
I will say that I think one of my proudest moments has been here in the way the players have accepted me and they way they have let me push them. I really like these players and I’ve known these coaches for a long time. The relationships that have been built, that’s a proud moment.
2. Other than coaching football, what is the best job that you have ever had?
A: I didn’t have a lot of “best” jobs because they were always summer jobs when I was in high school or college. I worked for the county highway department, I worked for a gas station, things like that.
But I think my best job was when I worked for my wife’s cousin as a carpenter. I couldn’t hit a nail. But he had me do all of the dirty work hauling things around and stuff like that. It was a lot of fun and I learned so much.
So can you help with the deck I’m looking to build?
I knew nothing about being a carpenter and I still know nothing, but it was a lot of fun.
3. What is the biggest area of progress that you have seen from your offense?
A:Toughness and confidence. I think it’s a tougher group. I think it’s a more confident group. We’re tougher and more confident than we were when we started back in spring football.
4. Is there anything on your iPod that would surprise your players?
A:Probably everything. I like fast music, loud music. I’m sure they think I’m listening to Frank Sinatra or something. I don’t have a favorite musician, I listen to a lot of different stuff. I like country, I like rock, that’s what I grew up in. I like it all.
Is there a go-to song?
Probably “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” by the Gap Band. I don’t know why, but that’s probably it.
5. What is your favorite thing about Tennessee?
A: I like the people and the climate. I appreciate the support of the university in athletics and in the football program. I really like the people, the players, the coaches, Coach Jones, who has been incredible to me. I really like my job and being here a lot.
