The Univ. of Tennessee on Thursday "publicly introduced" new AD John Currie, who fits with Chancellor Beverly Davenport's desire to hire a sitting AD from a "Power 5 conference school with a 'stiff backbone,'" according to Rhiannon Potkey of the Knoxville NEWS SENTINEL. Currie had been at Kansas State. Davenport said, "I wanted someone with unwavering integrity, commitment to compliance, a person with vision who understands how to manage and lead the entire enterprise." UT "hired Turnkey Sports and Entertainment to conduct the search." Davenport "did not disclose any other candidates the search firm or the search committee considered to 'protect all the people in this process.'" Currie begins working at UT on April 1 (Knoxville NEWS SENTINEL, 3/3). Currie worked at UT from '97-98 and '00-09, and in Chattanooga, Patrick Brown writes some former colleagues "remember Currie more favorably than others." Currie in his introductory press conference "acknowledged he faces both the learning curve of new surroundings and a 'reacquaintance curve' of returning to where he once worked." Currie's introduction "featured him recalling some of his favorite memories from his tenure" under former UT AD Mike Hamilton. He made multiple references to former UT football coach Phillip Fulmer, Hamilton predecessor Doug Dickey and former SID Bud Ford. He recalled watching late Basketball HOFer Pat Summitt "win multiple national championships and having the Thompson-Boling Arena court named after her." However, Brown reports UT fans "seem disappointed by the hiring of Currie." Also considered for the position were Fulmer and UT-Chattanooga Vice Chancellor & AD David Blackburn. Currie "easily has the strongest résumé of the three, but there are people -- ranging from boosters and university trustees to common fans -- he will have to prove wrong in his new job" (Chattanooga TIMES FREE PRESS, 3/3).
HOME SWEET HOME: In Knoxville, Mike Strange writes UT's AD search "appeared to last for months although it really just heated up a couple of weeks ago." The nearly eight years "running his show and overcoming obstacles at Kansas State have clearly given Currie confidence and maturity." However, there are "plenty of legitimate problems to solve." Not "many banners have gotten hung lately." The Lady Volunteers' "brand hurt remains unresolved," and Currie "danced away from that question." Strange: "A good start, though, would be trying to reassure the fan base he's the right choice" (Knoxville NEWS SENTINEL, 3/3).
STARTING THE PROCESS: In Kansas, Dylan Lysen reports Kansas State President Richard Myers on Thursday "appointed a committee to find" the next AD to replace Currie. KSU Alumni Association President & CEO Amy Button Renz will lead the committee, which will "begin to work on a national search immediately and plans to announce a new AD later in the spring." Myers said that the search process is "identical to the one used when Currie was hired" (MANHATTAN MERCURY, 3/3).
