Tennessee

There’s already at Tennessee law that allows teachers to carry concealed guns

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2024

There’s already at Tennessee law that allows teachers to carry concealed guns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Chaos erupted this week after the Tennessee Senate voted to pass a bill that would let a teacher carry a concealed gun, but as WSMV4 found out there’s already a law like this in the books.

The legislature passed the bill in 2016 so Pickett County and Wayne County could allow their teachers to be armed, however, they ran into problems with training and insurance.

“The superintendent wanted it,” explained Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald. “He was the one who asked us for the bill because they didn’t have SROs (school resource officers).”

Hensley sponsored the bill eight years ago which only allowed the two counties to let their school staff carry guns.

Those counties were deemed “distressed” at the time and met certain population requirements. Hensley said since they are rural counties, it took time for a deputy to get to a school and respond to an emergency.

“We wanted to be able to allow some of the teachers and administrators to carry a concealed weapon so that’s why we passed the bill,” he added.

The 2024 bill senators passed this week requires a school employee to get 40 hours of training, a background check, and a psychological evaluation. The 2016 bill only required a staff member to get the 40-hour training; Hensley said that’s when the problems started.

“The people who actually ran the POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission) certification training did not want to allow someone who wasn’t law enforcement to receive the training and they informed the sheriff that he might be liable if something happened,” he said.

The law was never implemented in their county. Hensley said that’s what makes the new bill, which he voted to pass, difficult.

“This is a very complicated bill because if anyone of those three doesn’t want to do it – the principal, superintendent, or sheriff – doesn’t want to allow it, then they can’t do it,” he added.

Since Wayne and Pickett counties are no longer deemed “distressed,” the law no longer applies to them.

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Tennessee

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Published

3 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

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Tennessee

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Published

15 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

Sept. 5: Furman
Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
Sept. 26: Texas*
Oct. 3: Auburn*
Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
Oct. 17: Alabama*
Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
Oct. 31: Open
Nov. 7: Kentucky*
Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
Nov. 21: LSU*
Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee

Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.

“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”

Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.

Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.

The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

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