Tennessee Football: Phillip Fulmer named AD just hours after John Currie’s dismissal
By Abbey Giese
After nearly a week-long coaching search and still no hire, the Tennessee Volunteers parted ways with athletic director John Currie. The university quickly announced former coach Phillip Fulmer would be his replacement.
The Tennessee Volunteers have had quite the coaching search, and yet another chapter has been added to the never ending story. On Friday, the Volunteers parted ways with athletic director John Currie after many head coach candidates turned down the Tennessee job.
Just filed to ESPN: Tennessee has parted ways with AD John Currie on the heels of what has been a disastrous Tennessee coaching search. He met with university officials on Friday morning, and the decision was made then.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 1, 2017
Tennessee hired Currie in April. He was the athletic director at Kansas State prior to joining the Volunteers.
The Volunteers football team finished 4-8 after being ranked No. 25 in AP Top 25 preseason poll. Tennessee finished the season with no wins in the SEC. This is the first time the Volunteers have gone without a conference win since 1933.
Currie frustrated many Tennessee fans all season. Despite the Volunteers’ losing record and getting blown out by many SEC opponents throughout the year, Tennessee waited until week 11 of the season to dismiss former head coach Butch Jones. Before Tennessee finally parted ways with Jones, fans called for a protest and had #EmptyNeyland trending on Twitter.
This week, Tennessee was close to hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. But they did not close the deal when fans protested the hire. The Volunteers also showed interest in Mike Gundy, Dave Doeren, Jeff Brohm, Mike Leach and others.
However, there is speculation that Currie’s difficulty with finding a new coach is much deeper than Volunteers fans’ dissatisfaction with the former athletic director.
According to college football insider Brett McMurphy, former head coach Phillip Fulmer attempted to hinder Currie’s coaching search so that he could become athletic director.
Sources: John Currie was prepared to hire Mike Leach but university officials wouldn’t allow him to do so. Phillip Fulmer has been sabotaging search process in hopes to become Tennessee’s AD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2017
Tennessee announced Fulmer would serve as the next athletic director just hours after Currie’s dismissal.
More from Southbound and Down
- Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
- 3 Up’s, 3 Down’s from Georgia’s 24-14 Win Over South Carolina
- Ole Miss Football: Looking back at the Rebels career of Zedrick Woods
- Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
- “Horns Down” will not be a Penalty in the SEC
It makes sense for the Volunteers to bring a familiar face back to the program. Fulmer won a national championship and two SEC titles as the Volunteers head coach. Tennessee is currently at the bottom of the SEC East standings, but the Volunteers were dominant in the division during the Fulmer era.
Fulmer is someone who is well-liked among Tennessee supporters. However, it is a strange coincidence that Tennessee announced Fulmer is the new athletic director so quickly after it was reported that he attempted to sabotage Currie’s coaching search.