Former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer is set to be named the next athletic director for the Vols in the wake of the firing of John Currie, and one major detail is emerging as Rivals.com is reporting that Fulmer will take over in an official — not interim — capacity.
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BREAKING: Multiple sources confirm to @Volquest_Rivals that Phillip Fulmer’s deal to become Tennessee A.D. will be for two years. pic.twitter.com/aKs3BQnf9q
— Volquest Staff (@Volquest_On3) December 1, 2017
For now, Fulmer has been named the acting athletic director.
Tennessee officially names Phil Fulmer as acting AD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2017
"Phillip Fulmer will begin serving as @Vol_Sports athletic director effective immediately... No one better understands the storied history of Vol athletics and its deep connection to alumni and fans."
- @ChancellorDav https://t.co/bwe9LvE77i
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 1, 2017
Fulmer, who was a candidate for the athletic director vacancy this offseason, resigned as Tennessee's coach in 2008 and had since worked as a special assistant to the athletic director at East Tennessee State University. He rejoined UT officially in June as a special advisor to the university president.
The College Football Hall of Famer went 152-52 (96-34 SEC) during 17 seasons as Tennessee's head coach, which included a BCS national championship in 1998, two SEC titles and five SEC East titles.
Former athletic director John Currie was fired on Friday morning after just eight months on the job as initially reported by WVLT in Knoxville.
Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated's Bruce Feldman reported boosters were attempting to drive Currie out of Knoxville after multiple reports claimed the Tennessee was "finalizing a deal" with Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, which resulted in protests by fans through social media and on UT's campus.
Am told there's increasing pressure now from big-money #Vols boosters to force #Tennessee AD John Currie out in the wake of Sunday's news. UT source told me: "This is such a hot mess. Just when you think they’ve gotten out of the ditch. They’ve fallen into a much bigger one.”
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 27, 2017
Tennessee fans protested the reported decision to hire Schiano based having previously worked as a defensive assistant at Penn State under former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted of child molestation stemming from his tenure with the Nittany Lions in 2012.
According to a report, Schiano allegedly knew of Sandusky's sexual abuse and turned a blind eye, according to testimony from former Penn State assistant Mike McQueary that was unsealed in 2016 by a Philadelphia court.
Schiano has denied the allegations in the past, having told ESPN's Adam Schefter: "I never saw any abuse nor had reason to suspect any abuse during my time at Penn State."
Currie released a statement on Monday defending his decision to target Schiano, claiming the university conducted a thorough background check on the coach.
John Currie’s full statement defending his attempt to hire Schiano. He should be apologizing for his mistakes not defending them. pic.twitter.com/6yp28SQuez
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) November 27, 2017
It's worth noting that Currie had previously worked in Tennessee's athletic department and was instrumental in Fulmer's forced resignation in 2008.
