University of Tennessee Athletics
Football
Drew Painter
- Title:
- Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance
Former James Madison standout tight end Drew Painter serves as Tennessee’s assistant director of football sports performance.
Painter joins the Volunteers after working on the strength and conditioning staff as assistant director at Baylor for two seasons (2024-25). In 2024, the Bears reeled off six consecutive victories to end the regular season and earn a berth in the Texas Bowl. Painter helped train 11 players who earned either first, second or honorable mention All-Big 12 honors following that season.
Painter was an all-around tight end for the Dukes from 2018-22, while playing for coach Curt Cignetti and being trained by Derek Owings. He helped lead JMU to a 50-12 record during that span with four appearances in the NCAA FBS Playoffs, including two semifinal berths and a 2019 national championship game appearance.
For his career, Painter played in 46 games with 16 starts, catching 29 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He was named an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection as a senior in 2022, tallying 19 receptions for 221 yards and two scores.
Painter was also a standout student in the classroom. He was named to the CAA Football Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll every year of his career, and he was recognized on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team and National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2022.
A native of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Painter earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from James Madison in May 2022 and his master’s degree in exercise physiology in December 2023.
He got his start in the strength and conditioning field as a graduate assistant at JMU in 2023 under Owings. That year, the Dukes finished with an 11-1 record and a 7-1 mark in conference play to earn the school’s first bowl bid (Armed Forces Bowl) in just its second year at the FBS level.
The Painter File
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Education: James Madison, 2022 (bachelor’s in kinesiology); 2023 (master’s in exercise physiology)
Playing Experience: James Madison – TE (2018-22)
Coaching History
2023: James Madison, Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2024-25: Baylor, Assistant Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
2026-present: Tennessee, Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance
Painter joins the Volunteers after working on the strength and conditioning staff as assistant director at Baylor for two seasons (2024-25). In 2024, the Bears reeled off six consecutive victories to end the regular season and earn a berth in the Texas Bowl. Painter helped train 11 players who earned either first, second or honorable mention All-Big 12 honors following that season.
Painter was an all-around tight end for the Dukes from 2018-22, while playing for coach Curt Cignetti and being trained by Derek Owings. He helped lead JMU to a 50-12 record during that span with four appearances in the NCAA FBS Playoffs, including two semifinal berths and a 2019 national championship game appearance.
For his career, Painter played in 46 games with 16 starts, catching 29 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He was named an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection as a senior in 2022, tallying 19 receptions for 221 yards and two scores.
Painter was also a standout student in the classroom. He was named to the CAA Football Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll every year of his career, and he was recognized on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team and National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2022.
A native of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Painter earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from James Madison in May 2022 and his master’s degree in exercise physiology in December 2023.
He got his start in the strength and conditioning field as a graduate assistant at JMU in 2023 under Owings. That year, the Dukes finished with an 11-1 record and a 7-1 mark in conference play to earn the school’s first bowl bid (Armed Forces Bowl) in just its second year at the FBS level.
The Painter File
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Education: James Madison, 2022 (bachelor’s in kinesiology); 2023 (master’s in exercise physiology)
Playing Experience: James Madison – TE (2018-22)
Coaching History
2023: James Madison, Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2024-25: Baylor, Assistant Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
2026-present: Tennessee, Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance
FB | Music City Bowl Postgame Press Conference (12.30.25)
Tuesday, December 30
FB | Joey Halzle & William Inge Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | Josh Heupel Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | DeSean Bishop Media Availability (12.27.25)
Saturday, December 27
