Troy State's coaching staff continues to under go changes from last year's team.

On Monday, the third assistant coach who began the 2002 football season left the university.

Offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Greg Adkins will leave Troy State to be the new centers and guards coach at the University of Tennessee. Adkins will replace Mike Barry, who resigned Jan. 9.

Troy State head coach Larry Blakeney told other assistants about Adkins' decision Monday and new offensive coordinator Mark Fleetwood commented on it at the Rotary Club meeting Tuesday.

"We lost another coach yesterday," Fleetwood said. "Greg Adkins is going to Tennessee."

Adkins spent the last two seasons at Troy State after spending the previous 10 seasons working for Jim Donnan. Adkins, a graduate of Marshall, worked for Donnan at Marshall from 1990-95 and followed him to Georgia from 1996-2000.

Adkins was one of the first to interview for the position at Tennessee and the Knoxville News reported Tuesday that he was the lead candidate.

"I am pleased to have Greg Adkins join our staff," Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer said. "His duties will be to coach the tight ends, assist Coach (Jimmy Ray) Stephens with the offensive line and serve as recruiting coordinator. He has SEC experience in all these areas and certainly will be an asset to our football program."

Fleetwood, set to begin his third tenure at Troy State, expressed gratitude to Adkins for staying in Troy until the recruiting season ended.

"If he had left earlier, then you'd be in a situation where four coaches are doing all the recruiting," Fleetwood said. "He did a great job in getting recruits to come to Troy State."

Fleetwood also credited Adkins with bringing a new philosophy to recruiting at Troy State.

"He brought the junior college recruiting to Troy State; he's the one who started that in Troy," Fleetwood said.

Adkins said he was excited about the opportunity.

"Obviously, I'm very excited for the opportunity to come to the University of Tennessee," Adkins said. "I look forward to working with Coach Fulmer and the staff, along with the community of Knoxville and the entire Vol Nation."

Adkins officially begins his UT employment Monday.

"We hate to lose Greg Adkins for a number of reasons," Troy State head coach Larry Blakeney said. "He has done wonders with our recruiting effort during his two years here and is a fantastic football coach. I know that this opportunity was too good to pass up for him and his family. We certainly wish him the best."

Blakeney said he would like to fill the vacancy quickly. The Trojans are set to begin spring practice March 10.