The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:25 PM

Former UT Head Coach Phillip Fulmer Coming Back To UT As Athletic Director

Former coach and college football hall of famer Phillip Fulmer will serve as the UT athletic director, according to our partners at Volquest.com. They add that it is unclear if Fulmer's role is temporary or permanent.

Volquest also tweeted that Fulmer will lead the football coaching search.

Chancellor Davenport is expected to present the decision at the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio on campus at 4 p.m. Friday.

Local 8 Sports Director Rick Russo was first to learn that UT ousted John Currie from his position as Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, according to sources. After nearly a week of coaching search misfires, Local 8 News crews waited outside as Currie met with Chancellor Davenport on Friday morning.

Currie's reported dismissal comes after tension and uncertainty mounted for fans and the athletic department during the search to replace former head coach Butch Jones. Since Sunday's fiasco concerning the potential hire of Greg Schiano, a running list of candidates who have reportedly turned down the coaching position has expanded to include John Gruden of ESPN's Monday Night Football, David Cutcliffe of Duke, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State University, Jeff Brohm of Purdue, Dan Mullen, who took the position at Florida, Chad Morris of Southern Methodist University and Dave Doeren of N.C. State.