Home › Other Sports
UT staff changes include Currie promotion
More Other Sports 
Share and Enjoy 
In an effort to better position the athletic department to achieve its long-term goals, University of Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton has implemented several staff changes.
The changes, which take place this week, are aimed at making sure the right people are in the right positions, Hamilton said.
“I’ve made some changes in the last day or two,” Hamilton said Wednesday. “I may make some down the road as I try to decide what is our game plan as it relates to strategy and try to achieve the goals we have for our athletic program.”
Most notably, John Currie will take over as UT’s executive associate athletic director, a title previously held by Gary Wyant, who retired in January. David Blackburn, associate athletic director for development, assumed much of Wyant’s duties.
Currie, previously UT’s senior associate athletic director for external operations, interviewed for Duke’s athletic director position that was eventually filled by former Notre Dame AD Kevin White. A source within the athletic department said that Currie was on Duke’s “short list” to replace outgoing AD Joe Alleva, who took over at LSU.
Other changes:
n Tyler Johnson has been promoted to associate athletic director for business and internal affairs from his current position as assistant athletic director for operations. In addition to his current duties, Johnson will oversee day-to-day operations of the business office and report to CFO Bill Myers.
n David Elliot was promoted to assistant athletic director for event management from his previous role as a coordinator in event management. He will remain the primary contact for all football-related items in event management and team travel.
n Bill Higdon, previously the assistant AD for event management, will become a director in event management. He will remain the primary contact for UT camps and baseball home events and assist with football and basketball home events.
n Condredge Holloway, UT’s assistant athletic director for player relations, will become assistant athletic director for student-athlete relations and lettermen. While retaining many of his current duties, he will primarily serve as liaison to the Lettermen’s Club and make public appearances on behalf of the athletic department.
n David Woodall moved from senior associate athletic director to assistant AD for administration. He will report to Myers and work primarily on contracts and invoicing items related to concessions (contracted to Sodexho) and souvenirs (contracted to E-Sports).
n Brad Bertani, UT’s associate athletic director for compliance, will assume facility oversight of Stokely Athletic Center, which will eventually be vacated as the athletic department’s primary home of UT’s athletic department.
n The position of director of special projects, currently held by Jim Bletner, has been eliminated. Bletner spent many years in charge of UT’s concession operations, which was contracted to Sodexho last July.
“That position was eliminated,” Hamilton said. “Jim is a tremendous guy and was a great asset to our athletic department. Right now, we currently don’t have another place where we can put him in the athletic department.”
Also, UT announced two new hires in the athletic department. Cindy Hartman will join the athletic department as a compliance specialist, assuming Johnson’s compliance responsibilities.
UT will also hire a dedicated IT team leader on the recommendation of a UT audit and the office of information technology to oversee UT’s men’s and women’s IT staff. The new IT team leader will also work with the development and ticket offices on security of season ticket holder and donor databases.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- Pennington: It is what it is
- Mattingly: UT football a happening that unifies
- Chavis' goal for defense: Learn to finish
- Vanderbilt ambushes South Carolina, 24-17
- Craft ready to go 'all-out' for Pearl, Tennessee
- McMahan told to make knee top priority
- Drops not whole story for Foster
- Adams: The Craft show might last awhile
- Next Bradshaw? UT gets commitment from combo guard Craft
- Prince admits he played most of season with dislocated shoulder
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Posted by GreerVol22 on June 4, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gonna need another PR guy after those 3 CBS football games...
Posted by Vol13 on June 4, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Watch the future media guides for Wyant's mug shot. I've been to at least three games where Gus Manning and/or Haywood Harris retired. Yet, they are both still on the payroll up there the last time I checked under the title of Special Consultant to the AD or something bogus like that.
The UTAD is a case study in overstaffing and wasting of donor dollars. They ought to give three credit hours for the students to learn how not to manage a business.
Posted by pdhuff on June 4, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang, I want Bertani's job. "Facility oversight of Stokley, which will be vacated". Eventually.....
Man, could I handle that with one good secretary and a cell phone with unlimited minutes and range. Range would be very important.
Once she learned to say "We'll get back to you on that" with conviction, I'd be home free.
Facility poo-bah, has a nice ring to it.
Posted by maholt49 on June 4, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One athletic director and SEVEN assistant or accociate directors, and know telling how many staff people each on of these guys has. You've got to be kidding!!!!! One example of why tickets go up each year. Hell,I doubt the President of the United States has many more on his cabinet.
Posted by ncvol on June 4, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Takes a village to run the athletic dept.Go Vols!
Posted by 02champs on June 4, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, basically, Higdon and Woodall were demoted and Jim Bletner were fired. Oh, and Hamilton...don't forget to hire 15 more academic advisors to bring that APR up. My dad was Head Coach of Baseball and the ONLY Academic Advisor (with the exception of several GREAT student tutors) for over 15 years and their grades were exemplary during his stint. Now Jim Bletner is being booted after over 30 years of dedicated service to UT to make way for Hamilton's young protege's, I imagine. Guess it's true what they say. You get less for more these days.
Posted by rockytopfrog on June 4, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our ticket prices just went up to give Currie a raise for failing to get another job.
There's nothing like looking for a new job, failing to get it and then get a raise for having done so.
I need a job like that!
Posted by newtonrail on June 4, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After numerous Emails, I want to know who is responsible for fixing the paper towel dispenser in the men's restroom (North end, SectionQ restroom). I have reported it out of order for at least 7 years and no one will fix it. But we have plenty of Associate and Asst. AD's. Now Bill Higdon's a year older than me, so he can go on Medicare and save us some money next year. That Insurance is probably why Gus and Haywood are still around.
Posted by Retiredvol on June 5, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Incredible! No wonder the UT budget is busted.
Posted by Vol13 on June 5, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Protect The Establishment!!!!!
Posted by richvol on June 5, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They haven't even mentioned the women's athletic department over there so just double everything in this article.
Watch out when your boss says what a "tremendous guy and a great asset" you are. That's code for you are fired...see ya.
Posted by Brama on June 5, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is David Blackman still on the UT Staff! I can't believe hamilton is not raising Ticket Prices.
Posted by agentorange on June 5, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hamilton should fire himself.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 5, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
02champs, Bill Wright? Hadn't heard that name in years. Hope he is doing well.
Posted by THE_VOL on June 5, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You folks are just too damned funny! Everybody complaining AGAIN about things they have absolutely ZERO knowledge of! Not a single person on here is close enough to the actual day to day operations of the UTAD to make any judgement as to staffing needs so please stop making yourselves appear more ignorant than you have already.
Posted by GreerVol22 on June 5, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait, we have a PR guy...they call him Bruce.
Posted by pdhuff on June 6, 2008 at 4:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ticket prices have to go up the feed the new Suburbans.
Still want to be the facility manager for a closing Stokely. Man, what a gig. Nothing big scheduled. In the office at 9:30 sharp, read GVX for 90 minutes, go to lunch till 2:45, pick up fritters, ck with secretary for no messages and head for happy hour.
Drive past Halls and wave at Dupree...
Posted by ajbake on June 9, 2008 at 1:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure there aren't any bureaucratic issues with these layers of cleverly named job titles (sarcasm).
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.