ORADELL — Long before he received a commitment from Bergen Catholic quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee coach Butch Jones was a graduate assistant on the Rutgers football staff.
After graduating from Ferris State in 1990, Jones got his start in the coaching profession that same year as a G.A. under then-Scarlet Knights coach Doug Graber. The Volunteers' third-year head coach spent two years in the dues-paying position before climbing the coaching ladder.
Ironically, the G.A. vacancy was created when former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left Graber's staff to mentor the defensive backs at Penn State following the 1989 campaign.