University of Tennessee Athletics
Football
Josh Huff
- Title:
- Director of Applied Performance Science
Josh Huff joins Tennessee’s football staff in 2026 as director of applied performance science.
Huff has worked closely with new Director of Football Sports Performance Derek Owings for over six years. Huff was the sport science coordinator and an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Indiana during its rise to the top of college football.
In Huff’s two seasons alongside Owings in Bloomington, the Hoosiers produced a 27-2 overall record, two College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten title and the school's first national championship in January 2026.
Huff was Indiana’s lead in sports science and developed strategies for monitoring injury prevention to keep players on the field and increase performance. During the 2025 regular season, Indiana had the fewest amount of players on the Big Ten weekly availability report, averaging just 4.08 per game. The Hoosiers’ durability was a factor during a perfect 12-0 regular season en route to the Big Ten Championship.
Huff’s process helped lead to 11 All-America honors, 23 All-Big Ten selections (first, second or third team), four Big Ten individual award winners and the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Huff worked with the quarterback room in developing specific programming to improve performance.
Prior to Indiana, Huff worked with Owings at James Madison as an assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 2023 season. In just its second season in the FBS, the Dukes went 11-1 overall and clinched the program’s first bowl bid, an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Huff had previously served as a strength and conditioning intern at James Madison for the 2021 season, a year the Dukes won the Colonial Athletic Association conference championship.
Huff worked at Mercer as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant coach from June 2021 to December 2022, collaborating with football, softball and women’s lacrosse.
A native of Stuart’s Draft, Virginia, Huff earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from James Madison in 2020. He received a Master’s in Education in higher education and leadership from Mercer in 2022.
The Huff File
Hometown: Stuart’s Draft, Va.
Education: James Madison, 2020 (bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise science); Mercer (Master’s of Education – higher education leadership)
Coaching History
2021-22: James Madison, Strength and Conditioning Intern
2021-22: Mercer, Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2023-24: James Madison, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2024-26: Indiana, Sports Science Coordinator/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2026-present: Tennessee, Director of Applied Performance Science
Huff has worked closely with new Director of Football Sports Performance Derek Owings for over six years. Huff was the sport science coordinator and an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Indiana during its rise to the top of college football.
In Huff’s two seasons alongside Owings in Bloomington, the Hoosiers produced a 27-2 overall record, two College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten title and the school's first national championship in January 2026.
Huff was Indiana’s lead in sports science and developed strategies for monitoring injury prevention to keep players on the field and increase performance. During the 2025 regular season, Indiana had the fewest amount of players on the Big Ten weekly availability report, averaging just 4.08 per game. The Hoosiers’ durability was a factor during a perfect 12-0 regular season en route to the Big Ten Championship.
Huff’s process helped lead to 11 All-America honors, 23 All-Big Ten selections (first, second or third team), four Big Ten individual award winners and the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Huff worked with the quarterback room in developing specific programming to improve performance.
Prior to Indiana, Huff worked with Owings at James Madison as an assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 2023 season. In just its second season in the FBS, the Dukes went 11-1 overall and clinched the program’s first bowl bid, an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Huff had previously served as a strength and conditioning intern at James Madison for the 2021 season, a year the Dukes won the Colonial Athletic Association conference championship.
Huff worked at Mercer as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant coach from June 2021 to December 2022, collaborating with football, softball and women’s lacrosse.
A native of Stuart’s Draft, Virginia, Huff earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from James Madison in 2020. He received a Master’s in Education in higher education and leadership from Mercer in 2022.
The Huff File
Hometown: Stuart’s Draft, Va.
Education: James Madison, 2020 (bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise science); Mercer (Master’s of Education – higher education leadership)
Coaching History
2021-22: James Madison, Strength and Conditioning Intern
2021-22: Mercer, Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2023-24: James Madison, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2024-26: Indiana, Sports Science Coordinator/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
2026-present: Tennessee, Director of Applied Performance Science
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
