Chicago Bears go to school, hire UT's Zach Azzanni as WR coach

The Chicago Bears dipped into the college ranks to hire Zach Azzanni as their wide receivers coach after he spent the last four seasons at the University of Tennessee, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Azzanni moves to the NFL to join John Fox's coaching staff after being the Volunteers' wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the past two seasons. He joined Tennessee in 2013, which included responsibilities as the school's recruiting coordinator, and prior to that spent one season as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin in 2012.

"We are really excited for Zach and his family," Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said in a statement. "I have known Zach for a long time and this is a path he has wanted to pursue for some time. We can't thank him enough for his loyalty, dedication and hard work over the past four years to our football program."

Azzanni also worked at Western Kentucky in 2011 as offensive coordinator/receivers coach and was Florida's passing game coordinator and receivers coach in 2010. He was assistant head coach and receivers coach at his alma mater, Central Michigan, from 2007-09.

Azzanni will be the Bears' third receivers coach in as many seasons. He replaces Curtis Johnson, who left the Bears to return for a second stint on Sean Payton's coaching staff with the New Orleans Saints.