Tennessee

Tennessee Titans finalize coaching staff: A look at the defense

Published

5 months ago

February 15, 2026

Tennessee Titans finalize coaching staff: A look at the defense

The Tennessee Titans have announced their full coaching staff for the 2026 NFL season.

The Titans hired Robert Saleh to be their next head coach on Jan. 22. Tennessee has made additional hirings in the weeks since Saleh’s deal.

The Titans have retained three coaches on their defensive staff. Tennessee welcomed five new defensive coaches this offseason.

Let’s take a look at the Titans’ defensive coaching staff in full.

Ben Bloom – Senior defensive assistant

Ben Bloom returns to the Titans for his third season, now as senior defensive assistant. Bloom served as outside linebackers coach for the Titans from 2024-25.

Dave Borgonzi – Linebackers coach

Dave Borgonzi replaces Frank Bush as linebackers coach. Borgonzi is the younger brother of Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi. He most recently served as linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.

Dalton Hilliard – Defensive backs/nickels

Dalton Hilliard was the pass game coordinator as well as defensive backs coach for Colorado State in 2025. The Titans are the first NFL team that Hilliard has coached for in his career.

Marquand Manuel – Defensive backs/safeties

Manuel joins the Titans after serving as secondary coach/pass game coordinator with the New York Giants in 2025. He’s been a defensive coach in the league since 2013. Manuel began his NFL coaching career as a special teams assistant on the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.

Tony Oden – Pass game coordinator/cornerbacks

The 2026 NFL season will be Tony Oden’s second as the Titans’ defensive passing game coordinator as well as cornerbacks coach. Oden was the New York Jets’ senior defensive assistant as well as cornerbacks coach from 2022-24. New York’s secondary produced a two-time first-team All-Pro honoree in Sauce Gardner in 2022 as well as 2023.

Ahmed Saleh – Defensive assistant

Ahmed Saleh, the cousin of coach Robert Saleh, serves as the new defensive assistant for the Titans. His last role was as linebackers coach as well as special teams coordinator for Wayne State University.

Travis Smith – Senior defensive assistant/pass rush specialist

Travis Smith now serves as defensive assistant/pass rush specialist after serving as defensive run game coordinator in 2026. Smith enters his second season with Tennessee.

Aaron Whitecotton – Defensive line

Whitecotton serves as the Titans’ defensive line coach. He’s coached in the NFL since 2013. Whitecotton most recently served as defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.

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Tennessee

Rescue teams pull kayakers and dog from Red River in Tennessee

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Rescue teams pull kayakers and dog from Red River in Tennessee

Sissy arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2000, where caretakers began monitoring and managing her osteoarthritis. Sanctuary leaders said a recent progression of the disease caused what they described as “clear signs” of pain and swelling in her right wrist.

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Tennessee

Tennessee Highway Patrol holds open house at Jackson district office

Published

11 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee Highway Patrol holds open house at Jackson district office

JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – The Tennessee Highway Patrol held an open house Thursday at the THP Jackson District Office in West Madison County for those interested in becoming a state trooper.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the various operations of the THP and the roles the department offers.

Trooper Tiffanie Williams said the career comes with competitive benefits and a sense of community responsibility.

“What makes us a good career choice is, one, base your retirement plan is pretty good, your benefits are pretty good. Also, just giving back to the community — we kind of hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Williams said.

For more information about the Tennessee Highway Patrol and how to get involved, click here.

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Tennessee

Tennessee State men’s hockey cancels 2026-27 inaugural season for second straight year

Published

22 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee State men’s hockey cancels 2026-27 inaugural season for second straight year

Tennessee State men’s hockey has once again canceled its inaugural season.

The first ever ice hockey team at an historically Black, public university was expected to begin play in 2025-26, but the season was canceled due to a fundraising shortfall. Now, the team has canceled its 2026-27 season according to a source with knowledge of the situation who wished to remain anonymous because the news is not public.

The Tennessean reached out to Tennessee State president Dwayne Tucker, who decline to comment on the situation.

The Tennessee State’s men’s hockey website does not have a schedule, roster, or any team events listed on its website. The site’s most recent update was July 10 of last year, an announcement about the 2025-26 season cancellation. Requests for additional information about the hockey team have gone unanswered.

This delay in the start of the men’s hockey team comes three years after the team’s inception was announced at Bridgestone Arena ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Nashville Predators and NHL were instrumental in bringing a team to Tennessee State, and a representative with the Predators confirmed that support is ongoing.

While the 2025-26 cancellation followed unrest about the school’s financial situation, it’s unclear if this year’s cancellation is for the same reason or if its related to the school’s recent turmoil in the athletic department.

In May, six coaches gave a vote of no confidence for Tennessee State’s athletic director Mikki Allen. A letter to Dwayne Tucker on May 29 expressed concern about the “current direction, leadership, communication, and operational management of the athletic department” under Allen.

Men’s hockey coach Duante Abercrombie was not among the six coaches mentioned in the letter.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

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