ATHENS — Kevin Beard has made a very quick, though not direct, ascent from Georgia’s support staff to full-time assistant at an SEC rival.

Beard, who spent the 2016 season as a quality control analyst on Georgia’s offense, left last month to become the receivers coach at Florida International. His stay was short.

Tennessee has now hired Beard as its receivers coach, according to multiple reports. He replaces Zach Azzanni, who left last week for a job with the Chicago Bears.

Beard is a former receiver at Miami, where he was the receivers coach in 2015. When he was not retained by new head coach Mark Richt, Beard followed former Miami offensive coordinator James Coley to Georgia. Coley became the Bulldogs’ receivers coach, and Beard helped assist the offense.

Now Beard will be on the other sideline when Georgia visits Tennessee on Sept. 30.