Reports: Tennessee fires AD John Currie
Tennessee’s disastrous coaching search has cost athletic director John Currie his job.
The university fired Currie on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Just filed to ESPN: Tennessee has parted ways with AD John Currie on the heels of what has been a disastrous Tennessee coaching search. He met with university officials on Friday morning, and the decision was made then.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 1, 2017
The athletic director fired Butch Jones with two weeks to go in the regular season and thought he had his replacement on Sunday with Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. But as the deal with Schiano came together, Tennessee fans revolted. The fan backlash caused Currie and the administration to crumble, leaving Schiano without the job he thought he was getting and Tennessee without a coach.
In the days after Schiano, Tennessee reportedly chased after coaches like Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Purdue’s Jeff Brohm and N.C. State’s Dave Doeren. All three of those coaches did not make the move to Knoxville.
Thursday night, Currie reportedly met with Washington State coach Mike Leach in Los Angeles. He returned to Knoxville on Friday. Per other reports, Currie has been undermined by others at Tennessee, including former coach Phil Fulmer.
Industry source: “Throughout this entire (#Tennessee) coaching search Phil Fulmer has tried to undermine AD John Currie in hopes of becoming the AD there.” https://t.co/Z2v03Nkd2h
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 1, 2017
Sources: John Currie was prepared to hire Mike Leach but university officials wouldn’t allow him to do so. Phillip Fulmer has been sabotaging search process in hopes to become Tennessee’s AD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2017
Another source: Tennessee’s own people have been ambushing (John) Currie’s (coaching search). They shoot themselves in the foot, cock the gun & shoot themselves in the other foot. It’s been going on for a week"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2017
Currie drafted a memorandum of understanding with Leach that the WSU coach would take the job with the school, according to Sports Illustrated. After sending the MOU back to Knoxville, Currie was immediately summoned back.
But someone at Tennessee—sources close to the negotiation will not say who—was displeased with Currie’s courtship of Leach. Shortly after a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding was sent to Tennessee’s general counsel on Thursday, Currie was ordered to return to Knoxville.
Currie came to Tennessee earlier in 2017 from Kansas State.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
