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Former Vols offensive coordinator is out of a job in part because of a controversy earlier this year

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Dec 29, 2023 9:57 AM ET

Former Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian needs a new job.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Thursday that Bajakian isn't being retained by Northwestern head coach David Braun for the 2024 season.

Sources: Northwestern offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, special teams coach Jeff Genyk and strength coach Jay Hooten will not return next season.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 28, 2023

Bajakian served as Northwestern's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2020 to 2023.

When Butch Jones was hired at Tennessee ahead of the 2013 season, he brought Bajakian with him from Cincinnati to serve as the Vols' offensive coordinator. Bajakian left Knoxville after the 2014 season to take a job as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterbacks coach, a job he held for four seasons. Bajakian also had a cup of coffee with Boston College in 2019 as the program's offensive coordinator.

The news that Bajakian isn't returning to Northwestern doesn't come as a total shock. ESPN's Sean McDonough noted during the Las Vegas Bowl last week that Bajakian told him he knew the Las Vegas bowl was his last game.

Bajakian was in the news earlier this summer when he showed up to a Northwestern practice wearing a shirt in support of Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired due to hazing allegations.

McDonough suggested during the broadcast of the Las Vegas Bowl that Bajakian's fate was sealed by his support of Fitzgerald.

Following up on Sean McDonough’s statements that Mike Bajakian told him he wouldn’t return as OC and that David Braun told him Tim McGarigle would be the new DC.

Here’s the full video of what McDonough said on that part of the broadcast, for those who didn’t watch: pic.twitter.com/t4uLYWUKmz
— Iggy Dowling (@idowling11) December 24, 2023