Evan Crabtree

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator

updated summer 2026

Evan Crabtree joined Tennessee’s staff in 2022 and enters his second year as the Volunteers’ special teams coordinator in 2026. He was officially promoted to the role by head coach Josh Heupel on Feb. 18, 2025.

THE CRABTREE FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Born: Aug. 2, 1996
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
Education: Miami (Ohio), 2019 (bachelor’s in sport leadership and management); Miami (Ohio), 2020 (master’s in sport leadership); Tennessee, 2023 (master’s in ag leadership, education and communication)
Playing Experience: Miami (Ohio) – LS (2016-19)

COACHING HISTORY

2020-21: Miami (Ohio), Graduate Assistant
2022-23: Tennessee, Special Teams Graduate Assistant
2024: Tennessee, Special Teams Analyst
2025-present: Tennessee, Special Teams Coordinator

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES (7)

2025 Music City Bowl – Tennessee
2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee
2024 Citrus Bowl – Tennessee
2022 Orange Bowl – Tennessee
2021 Frisco Football Classic – Miami (Ohio)
2020 Lending Tree Bowl – Miami (Ohio)
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl – Miami (Ohio)

Crabtree’s first year in the head role saw Tennessee once again thrive in all facets of special teams. The Vols led the SEC and ranked second in the nation in kickoff return average at 30.36 yards per return, representing the first time since 2015 that UT was tops in the league. That mark also ranked second in Tennessee single-season history. Freshman Joakim Dodson’s spectacular 94-yard touchdown in the Music City Bowl was the highlight as the Vols finished as one of three SEC programs with a kickoff return score during the season.

Crabtree’s unit protected the kicking game at a high level in 2026. Tennessee was top 20 in the nation in both kickoff return defense (20th – 17.0) and punt return defense (17th – 4.0). Those marks ranked third and second in the SEC, respectively.

Meanwhile, Crabtree’s kickers had their own success. Kickoff specialist Josh Turbyville was selected to the Coaches All-SEC Second Team, ranking fourth in the nation in touchbacks (71) and eighth in touchback percentage (85.54). Both of those figures ranked second in the SEC. Australian native punter Jackson Ross became the first Vol since Michael Palardy in 2013 to be named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Ross ranked second in the nation and first in the SEC in percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line (51.3). His 43.4-yard career punting average ranks third in UT annals.

Crabtree served as a graduate assistant and special teams analyst for the Vols from 2022-24. Their play helped spark the Vols to their winningest three-year stretch in two decades, a 2024 College Football Playoff berth, a 2022 Orange Bowl victory and three straight top-20 poll finishes.

Tennessee has ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in three out of the last four seasons. The Vols have averaged 13.7 yards per punt return since Crabtree joined the staff, a mark that ranks fifth in the nation and second in the SEC over that span.

As an analyst in 2024, Crabtree helped coach a unit that led the nation in punt return yards (424). UT led the SEC and ranked ninth in overall punt return average at 15.7. The kicking game also served as a field position weapon. Ross led the nation and SEC in percentage of punts downed inside the 10-yard line as 28.3 percent of his punts (15 of 53) were pinned inside that mark.

Crabtree’s second season in 2023 saw the Vols rank in the FBS top 25 in five categories, including blocked kicks (4 – third), blocked punts (2 - fourth), net punting (41.3 – 22nd), punt return defense (0.85 - sixth) and punt return average (12.3 – 15th). Tennessee led the SEC in punt return average, blocked kicks and blocked punts en route to dominating Iowa in the Citrus Bowl to finish No. 17 in the final polls.

Crabtree joined the staff in 2022, a year that saw the Vols rise to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings and finish 11-2 with an Orange Bowl victory over ACC champion Clemson. Tennessee averaged 16.6 yards per punt return and racked up 331 total punt return yards, which ranked third in the FBS and second in the SEC. The Vols were tops in the SEC in yards per punt return allowed at 2.50, a mark that also ranked sixth in the FBS.

A native of Dublin, Ohio, Crabtree got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at his alma mater of Miami (Ohio), working with special teams. Crabtree was a four-year starting long snapper for the RedHawks from 2016-19, appearing in 45 career games.

Crabtree owns three degrees. He earned his undergraduate degree in sport leadership and management from Miami in 2019. He completed a master’s degree in sport leadership from Miami in 2020. He earned a master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education and communication at Tennessee in 2023.