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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bob Shoop has agreed in principle to leave Penn State and become Tennessee's defensive coordinator.
Volunteers coach Butch Jones announced the move Saturday night. Tennessee athletic department spokesman Ryan Robinson said Shoop agreed to a three-year contract worth $1.15 million annually.
Robinson said Tennessee isn't responsible for any buyout Shoop owes to get out of his Penn State contract. Robinson said the buyout details would be handled between Shoop and Penn State.
"This was not an easy decision and one that I didn't take lightly," Shoop said in a statement. "Over the last 24 hours, I had an opportunity with meet with Coach Jones and his staff. It became evident to me that he is building a great program, a program on the rise and certainly one that will compete for an SEC championship. I'm looking forward to becoming a part of the team."
Shoop replaces John Jancek, who was Tennessee's defensive coordinator the last three seasons. Jones announced Wednesday that Jancek wouldn't be back next season. Jancek was making $520,000 per year.
Each of the last five seasons, Shoop has coordinated a unit ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in total defense.
"Bob has established himself as one of the premier coordinators in all of college football and is very well-respected as a recruiter, football coach and person," Jones said in a statement. "He brings a wealth of experience at the highest level and possesses all the qualities we were looking for as we went through this process."
Penn State allowed 324.5 yards per game this season to rank fifth in the Big Ten and 14th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense. The Nittany Lions gave up 21.8 points per game to rank seventh in the Big Ten and tie for 26th nationally in scoring defense.
Tennessee allowed 20 points per game this season to rank fifth in the Southeastern Conference and 16th nationally. The Vols yielded 362 yards per game to rank seventh in the SEC and 36th nationwide in total defense.
Shoop has SEC experience from his stint as Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator from 2011-13. When former Vanderbilt coach James Franklin moved to Penn State after the 2013 season, Shoop went along with him.
In the release announcing his move to Tennessee, Shoop thanked Franklin, Penn State's players and the Penn State community "for an incredible two seasons."
Shoop also has been a defensive coordinator at Yale (1994-96), Villanova (1997) and William & Mary (2007-10). He went 7-23 as Columbia's head coach from 2003-05.
The addition of Stoops is one of two changes to Tennessee's coaching staff. The school announced Monday that former Miami interim head coach Larry Scott had agreed in principle to become the Vols' tight ends coach. Scott replaces Mark Elder, now the head coach at Football Championship Subdivision program Eastern Kentucky.
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This story has been corrected to show that Tennessee announced Jancek's departure on Wednesday, not Monday.
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