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Tennessee hopes to have a new head football coach as soon as the weekend.
Athletic director Mike Hamilton said Wednesday at a 1 p.m. press conference that while it is worth being deliberate to find the right man, he realized “timing was off the essence.’’
Hamilton was headed back on the road to hire a new coach and said that when he meets with the football team this weekend he hopes to be standing before them with the new coach.
A live recruiting period begins Sunday.
Kippy Brown, appointed interim head coach in the wake of Lane Kiffin’s surprising resignation on Tuesday, said a new coach could be in place by Friday when recruits arrive for official visits.
Brown said he considers himself a legitimate candidate for the head coaching job, but that he hopes to stay on the staff if someone else is hired.
Hamilton arrived back in town from a business trip late Tuesday night.
He met with eight mid-term enrollees Wednesday morning and encouraged them to attend class.
Hamilton said all eight are locked in to their commitment to UT because they were on campus at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the first day of class. One of them had reportedly left.
Hamilton said he first learned of the possibility of Kiffin leaving on Saturday morning. Kiffin admitted he would be interested in Southern Cal if Pete Carroll were to leave.
On Tuesday morning, Kiffin called Hamilton and told him he was in talks with USC.
“I’m very disappointed for our student-athletes and for our fans,’’ Hamilton said today.
“The search process has begun. We are down that road.’’
Hamilton said he felt comfortable telling candidates UT faced no major NCAA penalties due to any infractions during Kiffin’s 13-month tenure.
“I’m out there to get the best candidate, whatever that looks like,’’ Hamilton said.
He said Phillip Fulmer, who was fired in November 2008, would not be under consideration.
Hamilton also made it clear a permanent coach will be on board rather than going forward with an interim coach.
"Men’s Athletic Director Mike Hamilton is in charge of the process to both address the immediate needs and to hire a new head football coach," UT Interim President Jan Simek said in a statement this afternoon.
"We will be engaged in that process at the right times and places, and Mike is keeping me fully apprised of developments meanwhile.
“Clearly, Vols athletic programs bring an enormous amount of visibility to the University, and it is critically important that visibility reflects the integrity and character the University seeks to develop in student-athletes as well as the entire student population.”
UT trustee Doug Horne, a Knoxville real estate developer, said Hamilton is going about the search for a new coach as quickly as he can. Asked if the board has confidence in Hamilton, Horne said yes, adding that there's "nothing he could have done about this. Lane Kiffin made the precipitous decision on his own."
"I know everybody's upset and a lot of people are popping off around town there but ... the trustees have full confidence in Mike Hamilton," Horne added.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 334
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
way to go, Mike!! contract negotiation of the century!
SATCHMOE writes:
whats next....
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
"not that I'm aware of"...translation: board of trustees are going behind his back.
JohnnyVol writes:
Hmmm...
Apparently no candidates at this point hot enough to mention.
wags32 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Give_Him_6_Holloway writes:
I hear that a UT plane has left Knoxville bound for Texas. Will it by Muschamp of Peterson?
Hacksaw57 writes:
If Kip is not being considered, then that is an indication that Hamilton has already contacted someone. Why would you not consider a coach that has already been at your school and knows pretty much how things need to be done at a school that he was successful at.
Mikeah writes:
Hamilton's got to go. I'm a very loyal Alum, but I'm ashamed of my school. Fulmer for AD
vol88 writes:
Oh, Lord, here we go, LOL. somebody get the tail number and find the fligh plan online. GBO.
flashbone writes:
we def need a new basketball coach. all bruce does is beat #1s as often as u brush your teeth.
SATCHMOE writes:
Kiffin lied ,he knew he was going and he lived up to what Davis said about him. "He has lied to me and has lied to the team and he will hurt Tennessee".I didn,t know that Davis was a prophet.Wished we would have listened.
suttree writes:
"[Hamilton's] answer was, "Not that I'm aware of."
Sounds like a lame duck to me.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Taterhead,
gettin' a little head start on happy hour, are we?
winbigvols writes:
Fire Hamilton, Fulmer as the new AD and John Gurden as Coach. You heard it here first.
papabearmaples writes:
listening to Kippy's press conference. I am pretty impressed with this guy and would be pleased to have him. We need a Tennessee guy who has integrity, who wants to be at UT, who can help us recover from this set back.
tigervol77 writes:
Fulmer has been contacted. Don't let Hammy fool you. It was by the board of trustees!
bierpimpvolstuckinATL writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
mdvol writes:
Translation......I am not in charge any longer.
Mike Hamilton
gnm53108 writes:
Thats my take.
middleTNvol writes:
This whole thing stinks. Too bad he didnt take Hamilton with him.
Slimjim_Vols writes:
Kippy says coach will be hired by friday
Stark_Vol writes:
Davis also said, "Jamarcus Russell is a good quarterback. Get over it!" J-Russ sucks man so don't fall in love with Davis' speeches yet
smithvols12 writes:
I agree, Kippy Brown is sounding impressive in the news conference.
smokymtman writes:
Kiffin had lots of class; it's all those Fulmer Fools out there showing their redneck comments in the press and news that should take lessons in "class".
Exiled writes:
Oh Lord, say it ain't so! Why move backwards?
tigervol77 writes:
UT boosters have contacted Phil either about the HC job or AD. It's unclear which position.
randybone78 writes:
Go get Gus Malzahn!!!!
hookkick writes:
Good bye Hamilton. You can kiss my azz along with pretty boy.
volfan4betterorworse writes:
espn hamiltons interview ticker read some of the board of directors had contacted fulmer offering him the ad job or coaching job but not both,
tigervol77 writes:
With oregeron contacting players telling them not to go to class today......isn't that a Violation?? A pretty bad one at that! NCAA needs to let that follow them to USC!
tenntallguy_29#615180 writes:
I say we hire Kippy!!!
SIMSVOL writes:
Fulmer in either the AD or coaching position is a major mistake. We need to move forward with an energetic, dynamic leader in both spots. Fulmer is not the guy. The Board renegades are going to make this situation even worse.
kswinger writes:
To jump ship 3 weeks before signing day and try to keep kids from enrolling - is NOT class! As for Fulmer, he stuck a knife in Johnny's back to get his dream job too - but it was where he already was. They both are what most head coaches are - concerned about #1 (themselves).
bleeding_orange_fan writes:
Cutcliff for HC and Trooper for OC!!!
volunteers2011 writes:
Does any one know the names of the 8 recruits said to be on campus at 12:01am ?
CrankE writes:
I agree.
FCLK has shown us his true colors. And he deserves every epithet hurled his way. As Forrest Gump said, "Sometimes, there just aren't enough rocks."
In so doing, FCLK has exposed yet another grievous error by Hamilton that will cost Tennessee's Athletic Department a whole bunch of money. With all the damage that Hamilton has done to UTAD, it begs the question:
Can UT afford to keep Hamilton?
hookkick writes:
I hope this sends a message to the lame duck political garbage called the NCAA to put in place these scenarios. Mandating no head coach can change schools from Jan 1 to March 1. Some kind of policy that will prevent a school from being sandblasted for years to come from a loss of recruits and staff. Thishas to stop.
gwbask writes:
Because he has no proven track record as a head coach. We've done that before and you see where that has gotten us. The UT job is too good a position for us take chances or gambles. Let the smaller programs do the guess and hope routine for their coaches, we don't need to. I say go to TCU or Boise to look. Not Texas cause Moschamp will be gone as soon as the Texas or Georgia jobs come available.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Last week I tried to track the plane and you cant follow it anymore. They have it blocked for privacy.
jobrando#216494 writes:
I understand those coaches were appproched by USC and got no thanks. Worth a try though
utallvol writes:
Why in the world would you want a new b ball coach. in case you didnt kno we beat the #1 team in the country on sunday. what sense does it make to get a new coach stupid.
CHARLIEDONTSURF writes:
WE TRIED TO TELL YOU GUYS!!!
UCLA fan and grad. I logged on this site and while we talked about the game this past year, I along with many UCLA fans told you all about
Lane Kiffin and his former USC staff. Believe it or not, you guys are better off without them. You deserve better, and I am not just saying that
because I am a Bruin.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
BOT's talking to Fulmer either about coaching or AD???? YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another thing to make you go Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnn
You think those 4 big recruits at the game Saturday all put on their USC hats at the same time, might have had some kind of "inside information that Kiffin would be their coach???
I'm just saying........Someone needs to check into that one FOR SURE!!!! All we can do now is pull together as the VolNation and hope and pray that all turns out well for the BIG ORANGE and send a thank you note to CLK for all the recruits we are now probably and already have lost some of them! Great timing CLK and good riddiance! I could totally lose it here, but will try to maintain my composure, at least for now! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
VOLS.....TCB.....KOKO....GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FWBVol writes:
I too listened to the press conference on utsports.com. Being familiar with Kippy Brown's body of work as a player and coach I thought he would be a good choice as head coach before the press conference. Now I think he would be a great choice.
Kippy is a winner. He won state championships as a quarterback at Sweetwater. He was on the staff of some of the best teams we've had at Tennessee in the last 30 years. Yes, he played his college ball at Memphis, but he is a Tennessee man and considers the Tennessee job the ultimate destination.
Go Get Em Kippy.
utallvol writes:
Why are you so dumb. his records speaks for itself. People like you are the reason why we are in the shape we are in now. If it's not broke don't fix it. Stupid!!!!
RoadTrip writes:
Kippy - true Vol. Has everything we need to build a winning program again and develop quality student athletes. Both Fulmerite and Majorite camps can agree that he is quality. Despite Lame's claims - it would have been 3-5 years before we won a championship anyway.
VolFanFtl writes:
You are a fool.
Why would you want Pearl gone? He has put Tennessee back on the basketball map.
utclassof1992 writes:
Honestly? After what that guy pulled, you are defending him? WTF?
utclassof1992 writes:
While the coaching thing has run its course, Phil would make a great AD. Has the business acumen, experience, roots, and above all, class. And I think it will happen before the end of the week. When the BOD is offering jobs, the AD is a lame duck. THANK GOD!!!!
jobrando#216494 writes:
Seems like Hamilton knows no more than we do in his press conference. Somebody else I hope is taking care of business.
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