KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New Tennessee football coach Butch Jones says he’s eager to roll up his sleeves and take over what he called “the best college football program in America.”

The 44-year-old Jones said during his introductory news conference Friday that his team “will be a champion in everything we do.”

Jones owns a 50-27 record in six seasons as a head coach. He went 27-13 in three seasons at Central Michigan and has gone 23-14 at Cincinnati the last three years. Jones must rebuild a former SEC power that has posted three consecutive losing seasons.

Tennessee had been seeking a new coach since the Nov. 18 firing of Derek Dooley, who went 15-21 in three years. The Vols pursued Jones after getting rebuffed by ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and Louisville coach Charlie Strong.

Source: Steve Megargee, Associated Press