The idea of a pay raise never entered the mind of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer.

Not after a 5-6 season. Not after the frustration of off-the-field woes and even more on-the-field issues with his worst season as the Vols' football coach.

"I don't think there's any question there shouldn't be any talk of a raise or extension," Fulmer said on Tuesday. "I don't expect anything. We had a poor year.

"When you do well, you get rewarded. When you don't, you don't."

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton and Fulmer are definitely on the same page.

"I do not anticipate a raise or extension and I don't think Phillip does either," Hamilton said. "I think raises and extensions come about when you get expected or above-expected results.

"It's not a sign of anything other than we did not reach our expectations."

By contract, Fulmer will sit down with Hamilton for a formal review by Dec. 15. Assistant coaches have their reviews done by Jan. 15 of every year.

"Right now, the appropriate emphasis he (Fulmer) has is completing his staff and his primary concern is recruiting," Hamilton said.

Fulmer's contract pays him $2.05 million a year and runs through 2011.

In 2002, after an 8-5 season, Fulmer received a one-year contract extension, but no raise.

As far as Fulmer is concerned, the sit-down meeting with Hamilton isn't even necessary.

"Mike and the administration have been great to me," Fulmer said. "My focus is on a bigger picture.

"My batteries are fully charged, we're excited about the hiring of David Cutcliffe (as offensive coordinator on Monday) and we're looking forward to an offseason of hard work."

Fulmer has promised a complete "evaluation and audit" of his program.

It started with receiver coach Pat Washington and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens being released on Saturday night.

Cutcliffe was hired on Monday and the two are discussing possible staff hires and realignment.

Hamilton said there's no certain time frame to bring in the assistants.

"I hope it takes as long as necessary to get the right guys," he said. "If that's a week, fine. If that's a month, fine. If they're looking at NFL guys, they may have to wait a month."

Money is the secondary issue with the hirings.

"Assistant coaches have a salary pool and that's the starting point," Hamilton said. "Coach Fulmer and coach Cutcliffe will come to me with their suggestions and we'll analyze the individual and the marketplace.

"If we think the person is critical to our success, then we find out if it's a fiscally responsible decision and go from there."