David Blackburn, Tennessee’s associate athletics director for administration, has received a promotion and a longer title.
His new job is as senior associate athletics director for administration and football operations.
He is taking over football operations duties from Bruce Warwick, who resigned in late January to take a job with the St. Louis Rams.
“I feel that the hiring of David Blackburn is definitely one of the most significant hires we have made on our staff,” said head coach Lane Kiffin in a release for UT’s men’s sports information office.
“In my few months with David, it’s obvious he understands how to operate at a championship level. David has a great connection to the Tennessee football family, having worked for both Coach (John) Majors and Coach (Phillip) Fulmer.”
Blackburn had been less involved with football the last few years while dealing with the athletic department as a whole, but did fill in during football recruiting season before Kiffin’s staff was complete.
Blackburn graduated from UT in 1989 after serving two years as football student manager under Majors. He joined the staff full-time in 1991. He was assistant athletics director for football administration for five years under Fulmer.
His other positions included assistant recruiting coordinator, administrative assistant for football, manager of recruiting compliance for all men’s teams and assistant athletics director for development.
“As we continue to look for ways to increase efficiencies within the athletics department, this is a great opportunity for us to expand David’s role while eliminating a vacant position on our staff,” athletic director Mike Hamilton said in the release.
"David has served as football operations director in the past and has worked closely with Coach Kiffin and his staff since their hiring. He has been a tremendous asset for me on the administration side and will become an even greater asset to UT athletics in this increased role."
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Comments » 42
GreerVol22 writes:
Doing more with less....sign of the times.
UT37916 writes:
Hope he can keep L. Kiffen under control.
huntined#565710 writes:
Don't say his name or that he is good at his job...it may be another violation
turner_c writes:
I believe David Blackburn accompanied the new staff, especially CLK early, on many recruiting jaunts.
Go4Two writes:
Good guy I think he is from Moristown
OldSmokey writes:
Glad to hear this.
“I feel that the hiring of David Blackburn is definitely one of the most significant hires we have made on our staff,” said head coach Lane Kiffin in a release for UT’s men’s sports information office.
Tells me he is keeping with the UT tradition.
tnbigg writes:
Good.
OldSmokey writes:
Cavey And Witch where you at?
vol1994 writes:
Watermelon, Relax. Not every Avid UT fan reads the media guide. It was a simple comment the poster made.
One thing many people say about this site as the VOLS fans who post comments are so demeaning towards one another for no apparent reason. Take a chill pill and relax. Life is fun!!
volinSmyrna writes:
David is a great guy and I'm glad he is still around. In my few interactions with him over the years, he is all class and a true Volunteer.
GerryOP writes:
Coach Kiffin contributed at least 4 whole sentences to this report. Hope he did not say anything that some dork will report as a secondary, tertiary, or quandary NCAA violation.
smokyredbone writes:
Yeah, keep it in check PFC Hydrohead! He was making a positve comment about DB and you obviously like DB as well so bag it biatch (haha,just pullin your chain) GO VOLS!Keepin it Positive for the sensitive crowd!
OldSmokey writes:
LMAO!!! Best post I've seen this year!!!
belayvol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
2001_Volunteer writes:
Great hire, David is a class act.
ect1983 writes:
Hope you can learn how to spell Kiffin.
mtownvol writes:
David is actually from Lenoir City (I think). I worked with him for a couple of years when he was at Morristown East High School. He is a great guy and will do a great job.
volinky writes:
David is from Loudon. (Same county as Lenoir City...but the bitter rival!) He truly is "All-Vol." He graduated from Loudon Co. high school in 83 and went to Tennessee Tech for one year to play tennis. After his freshmen year, he transferred to UT to be a student manager on the football team. He has worked his way truly from ground up. His dad was a legendary high-school football coach in Loudon who produced Bruce Wilkerson and Cedric Kline to UT. This is a great hire and part of our past being included in our future.
orangevolz writes:
Hope you can learn to spell our coach's name.
vut56#231073 writes:
This is just a technical question that I am sure many red-meat hunters will pounce on in a heart beat:
Is not this the guy Papa Kiffin will report to? Remember the conflict with university and state rules regarding reporting relationships, nepotism, etc? I believe it was announced Kiffin reports to Hamilton, of course, but Papa would report to the Director of Football operations. Wink; wink. And, apparently, wink, wink to state law. Maybe Blackburn will call defensive signals from the press box.
Not to quibble; just a thought.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Fun for Sourmelon is picking at people and it tickles him like no other with such funny jokes he has... OMG why I bet everyone on this site is so tickled too and amazed at his great 10 word posts.
I mean just imagine if he ever really said anything cool or got into a good conversation about football or brought something to argue about or talk about besides his one liners.
UTVolAlum writes:
It does not get much better than David Blackburn. Great guy and true Vol. Excellent promotion by Lane Kiffin, but even better for Big Orange Country! Congrats to Mr. Blackburn!
Kiffin_fan writes:
I graduated from Loudon in 84. David was a great tennis player, I figured that would be his future. He is a great guy. There is golf tourney every year in Loudon in honor of his dad, Henry. You guys that play golf should check it out this year.
UT37916 writes:
Keffin
HtownVol writes:
Really, I graduated from East High in 02'
TommyJack writes:
Fear the Melons.
volinky writes:
When is the golf tournament? Is it at Riverview? I would love to play. I had Coach Blackburn for biology for 2 years at LHS (class of 89). He really was a great guy and died too early.
mtownvol writes:
I'm a '77 grad and taught there from '86 until '98. David was there from fall of '89 until spring of '91 I believe. He coached freshman football, helped with the varsity and taught science.
Kiffin_fan writes:
It is in the spring and yes its at Riverview. Let me make a couple of phone calls and i'll post the date if they know it yet...
Kiffin_fan writes:
Last years date was July 12. The golf course has not heard from them yet this year but expects to pretty soon. This thing has been going on for a long time and when I find out for sure I will post it here.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As I understand it, Blackburn IS the guy Monte would "report" to, but he is smart enough not to interfere with the coaches on the field. He is a good guy, all Vol, and a great addition to the program.
Volunatic writes:
Those folks will eventually learn to spell "Kiffin" as soon as they figure out how to correctly pronounce "Neyland".
Volunatic writes:
I sure am glad it isn't Katie or Troy Blackburn. They don't know too much about football.
http://www.bengals.com/team/FrontOffi...
rockytopatl writes:
Here's a link to a blog on the Atlanta newspaper site. It's a Q&A with Nigel Mitchell-Thornton, a new UT recruit who is already on campus, participating in the early morning workouts and apparently liking them and the new staff just fine:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sha...
givehim6 writes:
I figured phil would be up for the job.
HtownVol writes:
OK, you left my freshman year. So, G Williams was the Principal. I played freshman football in 98. You arent coack Pinkerton are you? I think that was the name of my coach. And I think he left after my freshman year. When Sexton was our QB.
HtownVol writes:
coach..Im at work
letshave1more writes:
Played golf with him several years ago when the Big Orange Caravan was in J.C. TN! Nice guy....
invisiblekid writes:
Ctownvol is busy with his duties as Master of Ceremonies, and yes, that is what he puts on the 1040 to the IRS. Rock On.
mtownvol writes:
Nope not Pinkerton though I know him well. I'll give you some hints. I left to become principal at Witt Elementary. My wife still teaches chemistry at East.
uffan4life writes:
poor lane has melted down allready, three self reported recruiting violations. How many are out there he doesn't want us to know about? This guy was a joke in oakland he will be a stain on ut great history. And amd I correct he was the idiot on tv saying how meyer have violated the rules and in fact he hadn't, but this mouth piece that's all he is all mouth 0-0 record in the sec or ncaa overall, makes himself look like a fool. Good luck guys fla is gonna hang 50 and ya'll will be wishing the fat man was still on the side. I don't think ya'll will even make the citrus bowl in 2010.
Kiffin_fan writes:
Only 50 is still an upgrade, but you will definately be surprised. I'm not sure we won't hang 50 on the Gators.
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