ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Head Coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Tennessee passes up on Volunteers legacy to announce new athletic director

This comes as a surprise.

Tennessee has filled its open athletic director slot with John Currie from Kansas State, per Jimmy Hyams:

The move comes as a surprise, as former coach Phillip Fulmer was expected to snag the position according to multiple reports.

Currie came to Kansas State in 2009 and helped lead Kansas State to Big-12 championships in football, men's basketball and baseball.

He won the 2013 Bobby Dodd AD award, the 2013 Under Armour AD of the Year award and is one of two collegiate athletic directors named to Sports Business Journal's 2011 Forty Under 40 list of national sports leaders, per Kansas State's website.

Currie received his Master's degree from Tennessee in 2003.