AP source: Tennessee hires Sunseri as coordinator

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A person familiar with the decision says Tennessee has hired Alabama assistant head coach Sal Sunseri to be its next defensive coordinator.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the hiring had not been announced by the either university. Coach Derek Dooley was scheduled to speak with the media Friday afternoon.

Sunseri replaces Justin Wilcox, who left Jan. 2 to join the staff at Washington. He has spent the past three seasons coaching the linebackers for the Crimson Tide, who won the BCS national championship game on Monday.

Before joining Alabama's staff, Sunseri spent seven years as an assistant for the NFL Carolina Panthers. He most recently was a defensive coordinator at Alabama A&M from 1998-1999.