A familiar face could be returning to Tennessee.

Lane Kiffin met Tuesday with former Tennessee assistant and longtime NFL assistant Kippy Brown about joining the Vols’ staff. Brown was the receivers coach on John Majors’ staff from 1983-89 and was the assistant head coach/receivers coach under Phillip Fulmer in 1993-94.

Brown’s reputation when it comes to grooming and developing receivers speaks for itself. Among the receivers he coached at Tennessee include Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper, Tim McGee, Joey Kent and Marcus Nash.

Brown spent 16 seasons in the NFL, but isn’t coaching anywhere this season. He was most recently with the Detroit Lions in 2008 as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.

Brown and Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin coached together on the New York Jets staff in 1990.

Ironically enough, Brown was Fulmer’s top choice to be offensive coordinator when David Cutcliffe left to take the Duke head coaching job following the 2007 season. But Brown stayed in the NFL after getting a promotion with the Lions.

The Vols are down two assistants after losing running backs coach Eddie Gran to Florida State and receivers coach Frank Wilson to LSU.