White comes to Knoxville after helping elevate the UCF football program to national prominenceGETTY IMAGES
New Univ. of Tennessee AD Danny White got an assist from one of UT’s all-time greats, Peyton Manning, to land the job. As Tennessee began its search to replace outgoing AD Phillip Fulmer last weekend, Chancellor Donde Plowman asked Manning what qualities he would like to see in the next AD. Manning called his old QB coach at Tennessee, David Cutcliffe, now coach at Duke. Cutcliffe’s message: Find another Kevin White, the Duke AD who is considered among the best in the business. Tennessee’s chancellor took that feedback to Parker Executive Search. It could not find another Kevin White, but it could put Plowman on the phone with the next-best thing -- Kevin’s son, Danny. That prompted a whirlwind courtship between the Vols and Danny White that started with a couple of video conference calls earlier this week and culminated in flying to Orlando on Wednesday to meet White at his home. There, they locked down the deal. White’s starting annual salary at Tennessee will be $1.8M with a yearly increase of 5%. He will be eligible to receive up to $300,000 a year based on incentives for team athletic performance, team academic performance and operational goals (Michael Smith, SBJ College).
WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR: In Knoxville, Blake Toppmeyer writes UT "made a statement hire." Plowman "knew what she wanted" in Tennessee's next AD: an "experienced leader and forward thinker with a track record of hiring successful head coaches." White’s coaching hires "helped elevate UCF football to national prominence," and he "helped bring a modern game-day experience" to UCF’s football stadium. White has a reputation as an "aggressive fundraiser and facilities builder" (KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL, 1/22).
BIG BLOW TO UCF: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi notes White has had "numerous other chances" to leave for Power Five institutions, and "he always said no." He "always believed he could get UCF to the next level." That is why White’s departure is a "devastating body blow to UCF’s athletic program." Bianchi: "I don’t believe this was about money. ... I believe he realizes he has done everything he can do at UCF and that the Knights have reached their ceiling." When White took over as UCF AD six years ago, the athletic department "was a dumpster fire," and UT is "in the same predicament now" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/22).
