Fulmer to be paid over 48 months, agrees to not 'interfere'

Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer’s finalized $6 million buyout will be paid out over 48 months as originally stipulated in his contract.

At the time of his firing on Nov. 3, UT said it would try to negotiate a longer term.

Under a separation agreement obtained by the News Sentinel from UT on Tuesday, Fulmer will be paid $125,000 a month for the next four years, and he is scheduled to receive his first payment near Dec. 31.

Included in the deal was an agreement that Fulmer would not “interfere in any way with the activities of the university’s football team or athletics department and shall not discourage the current members of the football team from cooperating in the transition to a new head football coach, from remaining active members of the team and from playing to their full potential in all competition events.”

The agreement also says that Fulmer is prohibited from contacting or discouraging recruits being pursued by UT as of Nov. 30.

Also included in the agreement, Fulmer will continue to receive a dealer-provided car comparable to the one he was supplied as head coach for the 48-month of term of his buyout.

He will also receive eight football tickets in a luxury suite and parking passes for home football games with the option to purchase up to 12 tickets to UT away games.

On Monday, UT announced that Fulmer will serve a three-month term as a special assistant to president John Petersen.

Fulmer will earn an additional $12,500 a month in that job, where he will be asked to help Tennessee build and maintain relationships with key donors.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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