John Currie is scheduled to meet with the media right now:
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Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Thanks to Butch Jones and his family.
Hoke will be interim.
We’re having an exhaustive search.
This is a special place. The search will be his sole focus. Committed to making the best hire for Tennessee.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: What requirements do you have in mind?
A: Integrity and commitment to doing things the right way. Will be able to lead us to where TN football can and should be.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Decision made with regard to early signing period? Did Butch sway recruits?
A: Blah, blah. Regarding Jones, he trusts Jones and his character.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Why now? Cause?
A: Relieved w/out cause. Timing: Made with best interest of student athletes. There were moments of frustration and of optimism. Wanted to give them the best chance to be successful, so didn’t do it until now.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Was Jones given the opportunity to coach the last two games?
A: Mutual decision.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Recruiting, Vandy was a big weekend. What’s message to recruits?
A: It’s important. All of the same things will continue to be attractive to recruits. We have great people up on the fourth floor. Some haven’t been home yet, are still working. Great respect and appreciation for them.
Ed. — That’s going to resonate with the recruits.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Timeline for finding successor, especially with early signing period.
A: It’s new, unchartered territory. Need to make a decision the best interest of student athletes here right now.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Who’s deciding? Will there be a committee or search firm?
A: We have a great team here, my sole focus, we also have other teams going on. He’ll lean on entire staff for day to day operations of athletics program. No search firm. Not at this time.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Why Hoke?
A: He’s a three-time conference coach of the year. Has won at highest level. We had him into the office and gave him the opportunity. He got into it for student athletes, and that was his focus.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Antone Davis?
A: We wish Antone the best. Those reports had nothing to do with this decision?
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Need someone with head coaching experience?
A: Need to hire the best for UT.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Buyout, what are we talking about with search going forward.
A: Somewhere 8.5M. Most assistants are on 2-year contracts, so somewhere around $13. All mitigated. Some may be retained. It’s a significant investment. We have the ability to manage it without negatively impacting our ability to find the next coach.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Will money be an issue to get the top candidate? Signature hire for him.
A: Could always use some more, but we have the resources to make the right decision. Me, I’m superfluous in terms of legacy, etc. I understand what’s at stake.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Is this a major rebuilding job like it was for Butch?
A: Jones changed the culture from an academic perspective. We have an excellent facility. City of Knoxville continues to blossom. 100,000 seat stadium with passionate fans. [We’re in good shape.]
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Have you spoken to the team?
A: I thanked them for their continued commitment to doing the right things. Exams coming up. LSU coming up. They appreciate our outgoing head coach, but committed to being Volunteers.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Important to have Fulmer here and honoring ’97 team this weekend?
A: I called Fulmer this morning after meeting with Jones. He’ll continue to be a great resource. Sent a note out to VFLs, this weekend should remind us all of what it is supposed to look like. At same time, we have young men who have played their hearts out and continued to work through adversity all season. Hope everyone will rally behind the team this weekend.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Was this difficult personally?
A: Tremendous respect for Jones and Barb. They poured themselves into making this program better than it was when they arrived. These things are difficult. Jones stuck to his values and had to suspend a couple of important players. My admiration for him has only grown. He was a professional this morning when we talked.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: Jones’ reaction?
A: Had a professional and appropriate conversation, plus continued interactions. He cares about the athletes and this university.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: What went wrong?
A: We haven’t won enough.
Author
Joel Hollingsworth
7 years ago
Q: How do you navigate a coaching search? What about Gruden?
A: Don’t want to add to any misinformation. Won’t respond to any specific candidates. Told team not to believe anything unless they’ve heard it from me. Respect the media and your job. But my job is to do it the right way.
Thanks to Butch Jones and his family.
Hoke will be interim.
We’re having an exhaustive search.
This is a special place. The search will be his sole focus. Committed to making the best hire for Tennessee.
Q: What requirements do you have in mind?
A: Integrity and commitment to doing things the right way. Will be able to lead us to where TN football can and should be.
Q: Decision made with regard to early signing period? Did Butch sway recruits?
A: Blah, blah. Regarding Jones, he trusts Jones and his character.
Q: Why now? Cause?
A: Relieved w/out cause. Timing: Made with best interest of student athletes. There were moments of frustration and of optimism. Wanted to give them the best chance to be successful, so didn’t do it until now.
Q: Was Jones given the opportunity to coach the last two games?
A: Mutual decision.
Q: Recruiting, Vandy was a big weekend. What’s message to recruits?
A: It’s important. All of the same things will continue to be attractive to recruits. We have great people up on the fourth floor. Some haven’t been home yet, are still working. Great respect and appreciation for them.
Ed. — That’s going to resonate with the recruits.
Q: Timeline for finding successor, especially with early signing period.
A: It’s new, unchartered territory. Need to make a decision the best interest of student athletes here right now.
Q: Who’s deciding? Will there be a committee or search firm?
A: We have a great team here, my sole focus, we also have other teams going on. He’ll lean on entire staff for day to day operations of athletics program. No search firm. Not at this time.
Q: Why Hoke?
A: He’s a three-time conference coach of the year. Has won at highest level. We had him into the office and gave him the opportunity. He got into it for student athletes, and that was his focus.
Q: Antone Davis?
A: We wish Antone the best. Those reports had nothing to do with this decision?
Q: Need someone with head coaching experience?
A: Need to hire the best for UT.
Q: Buyout, what are we talking about with search going forward.
A: Somewhere 8.5M. Most assistants are on 2-year contracts, so somewhere around $13. All mitigated. Some may be retained. It’s a significant investment. We have the ability to manage it without negatively impacting our ability to find the next coach.
Q: Will money be an issue to get the top candidate? Signature hire for him.
A: Could always use some more, but we have the resources to make the right decision. Me, I’m superfluous in terms of legacy, etc. I understand what’s at stake.
Q: Is this a major rebuilding job like it was for Butch?
A: Jones changed the culture from an academic perspective. We have an excellent facility. City of Knoxville continues to blossom. 100,000 seat stadium with passionate fans. [We’re in good shape.]
Q: Have you spoken to the team?
A: I thanked them for their continued commitment to doing the right things. Exams coming up. LSU coming up. They appreciate our outgoing head coach, but committed to being Volunteers.
Q: Important to have Fulmer here and honoring ’97 team this weekend?
A: I called Fulmer this morning after meeting with Jones. He’ll continue to be a great resource. Sent a note out to VFLs, this weekend should remind us all of what it is supposed to look like. At same time, we have young men who have played their hearts out and continued to work through adversity all season. Hope everyone will rally behind the team this weekend.
Q: Was this difficult personally?
A: Tremendous respect for Jones and Barb. They poured themselves into making this program better than it was when they arrived. These things are difficult. Jones stuck to his values and had to suspend a couple of important players. My admiration for him has only grown. He was a professional this morning when we talked.
Q: Jones’ reaction?
A: Had a professional and appropriate conversation, plus continued interactions. He cares about the athletes and this university.
Q: What went wrong?
A: We haven’t won enough.
Q: How do you navigate a coaching search? What about Gruden?
A: Don’t want to add to any misinformation. Won’t respond to any specific candidates. Told team not to believe anything unless they’ve heard it from me. Respect the media and your job. But my job is to do it the right way.