Photo by Hamilton Family Photo
The Hamiltons pose at home the day they got back from Ethiopia, July 18, 2009, with their newly adopted children. From left are Mike, Madison, Beth, Kiya Isaiah, Matthew and Papy.
The epiphany arrived in the airport in Addis Ababa.
Two years ago Mike and Beth Hamilton were awaiting their flight to return from Ethiopia to the United States with two of their three newly adopted children.
Hamilton was chatting with an elderly Ethiopian woman about the world into which the children, Nate, Kiya and Kalu, had been born.
It was a world in which something as fundamental as clean water could be a near-priceless luxury. It was a world ravaged by HIV/AIDS, an epidemic that had recently left the three young siblings motherless.
The conversation turned to the culture of the tribe the newest Hamiltons were from, and the meaning of their names.
“I asked about Kalu, our youngest daughter,’’ Hamilton said, “and she told me it meant, ‘get the word out.’
“It just hit me in the face from that moment on. There are incredible people 6,000 miles away from America suffering in so many horrible ways and we can do something about it.’’
Doing something about it is now Hamilton’s next calling after 25 years in college athletics.
Four months removed from his eight-year tenure as men’s athletic director at the University of Tennessee, Hamilton has been named president of U.S. operations for Blood:Water Mission, a nonprofit organization that addresses life-and-death issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
Raising funds still will be a major part of Hamilton’s job. But instead of providing posh amenities at a football stadium, his sales pitch will be to help connect Africans with basics such as clean water and prevention from HIV/AIDS.
The Hamiltons, who also have two older children, Madison and Matt, will be moving to Nashville, Blood:Water’s base.
He has been on the organization’s board for a couple of years. His position running a $100 million athletic department at UT ended in June, amid an NCAA investigation into violations in the football and men’s basketball programs. All of a sudden Hamilton had free time to become more involved in Blood:Water Missions
“Having seen it firsthand and living it with our three youngest children, our hearts have really been pulled toward Africa the last couple of years,’’ Hamilton said. “I’m in a season of life when I can do that.’’
He will travel throughout the United States, raising funds and awareness. As little as $1 can provide a year of clean water for an African, he said. Two-thirds of the world’s HIV/AIDS sufferers live in the region.
He also will escort potential donors to Africa a couple of times a year for a firsthand view.
“I’m not painting Africa with pity,’’ he said. “They are just folks who need our help.’’
After 19 years in Knoxville, Hamilton is glad he’ll be based nearby in Nashville.
“Frankly, I struggled with this decision because it’s putting 25 years of college athletics on the shelf,’’ Hamilton said.
He still will keep up with the events that transpire in Neyland Stadium, Thompson-Boling Arena and the other athletic venues on campus. And he will take pride in his role in helping make them attractive and viable to UT’s success.
“I loved my time here,’’ he said. “But this (Africa) has become more important once I got engaged personally in the issue.
“To see if I can have some effect on it, I feel obligated to try.’’
So he’ll try to get the word out.
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Comments » 62
elitedb writes:
Good luck Mike and well wishes for you and your family. Nashville's gain is our loss. Thanks for all you did and for all you will do.
GreerVol22 writes:
I wish you nothing but the best.
Beavolfan writes:
Wishing you the very best! I believe this was his true calling. He is so passionate about the love and care of others.
UTKin1992 writes:
At least he's attempting to atone for all the misery his mismanagement caused at my Alma Mater.
"Nashville's gain is our loss"? You can't be serious.
keepitreal4vols writes:
Hey Mike, you could sell your 8 season tickets and use that money for your awareness campaign.
NeylandWest writes:
Such a noble cause. You have to respect that! Best wishes!
rusty_shackleford writes:
Good luck and best wishes!
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
The only AD in the history of the SEC to fire a head coach that brought his school a National Championship. Had the vision to hire Lane Kiffin. Lied to Kippy Brown so he would hold down the fort as Interim Head coach until he replaced him during an embarrising week of turn downs with a losing WAC Coach. I love the Guy, hope all goes well. And from the rest of the SEC, thanks for firing Fulmer and Pearl. It was so much fun to watch from the outside looking in. Good Luck Mr Hamilton.
GerryOP writes:
Thanks for your service to The University of Tennessee. Go forth and do well Mr. Hamilton.
God bless and God speed.
Debt writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
hallsguy writes:
Good luck and this sounds like a good fit for Mike.
lafollette37766 writes:
Love him or hate him Hamilton was and is one of the best at raising money. Hopefully this job will be a good fit for his talents.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor wish his the best and good luck!
Bones never lie.
VolzsFan writes:
Revenue from gift giving made no change over the past 8 years from previous levels. Another said many times so it must be true. The only increase to the revenue has been ticket price increase, basketball in a big way which he had nothing to do with, SEC TV money and that is it. You are searching for something to give a guy that failed so horrifically something positive.
Central_IL_Vol writes:
Best Wishes on your new venture!
1vavolfan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
The_Ghost_of_Duke_DeLuca writes:
Sounds like a good project. I hope he's more successful in his new job.
samvol writes:
Good luck Mike.
givehim6 writes:
Would have loved it if we had stay with Kippy Brown and never saw Kiffin. That was probly the badest move Hamilton made, as far as Fulmer goes he was a great H/C but he needed to go. Loved Pearl, he was treated to rough. It problable time for him as well, but UT should have given him a bit more respect. Losing WAC coach? Well you just keep thinking that way ok. Anyway, good luck Mike sounds like you will be doing a very important and worthwhile job. U.S. picked a good man for the job.
JoeVols writes:
Scout us out a running back Mike!
whizkidtn writes:
Ditto!
tennvolsman19651965 writes:
Although I couldnt wait for him to step down as AD, I wish him well. I guess I can throw a party to celebrate his new job, but it wont be as big as the one I threw when he left. Good luck with all future ventures in your life that don't involve UT Athletics.
TommyJack writes:
No, that would have been FHCPF.
Vol43 writes:
Wish you well mike. You're a good man.
arkyvol writes:
It’s amazing, the number of posters who are oblivious to the obvious. Wishing Hamilton is one thing; pretending that his tenure at U.T. was anything but an unmitigated disaster is something else. I am one of those who, on hearing of his resignation, felt as if Christmas had come early. I was not alone, but that feeling indicates no malice, simply a recognition of his mind-boggling incompetence. To paraphrase a line from ‘The Godfather’, it’s nothing personal, just business. Hamilton’s supposed business was the U.T. athletic department which he ran further into the ground than I believed possible. As for his immediate prospects (complete with a big fat love offering from the U.T.A.D.), frankly I couldn’t care less. I just hope this is the last time I see his name associated with my alma mater.
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
Sir nothing mean spirited but Dooley was a losing coach in the WAC, I didnt make up his record, and if he loses again Saturday he is 3-7 in SEC play and a 70% losing SEC Coach. Just the facts, no lies or Koolaide. What part of a losing coach from the WAC was incorrect? Just curious. Oh yeh, Kippy was Interim Head coach after Kiffin left, not before. Although Kippy coached under Jimmy Johnson, Tony Dungy, Phillip Fulmer, and now Pete Carroll, somehow Dooley got the job and Kippy never got the interview he was promised. Hamilton hired Dooley after Muschamp, Cutcliff, Gruden and Calhoun said no. Then Kippy went to the Seahawks and helped a lousy team make the NFL playoffs. By the way UT scored more points over any 5 year period when Kippy was WR coach and assistant OC. Just more facts.
agentorange writes:
Mike Hamilton's actions as AD prove him to be a spineless, incompetent weasel. If anyone can screw up a charity for starving kids with AIDS, it's Hamilton.
seadaddy writes:
Just a troll,nothing more nothing less,get a life "LOSER".
seadaddy writes:
Hey Rocky this troll is like all the other troll,looking for attention ,they have no life totally losers.
thevoice writes:
Good luck Mike. Thanks for aptly representing UT during the NCAA hearings. Noble position you now have. Go, and do well.
SummittsCourt writes:
It will be years before the extent of his poor management of the athletics programs can be fully rebounded and set straight. The jury is still out on Dooley and Martin and once UT got a competent AD (Joan Cronan) UT actually hired a great baseball coach. However, the damage is done and Dooley and Martin may turn out to be great coaches, but they may not be the men to turn around the fortunes of the mess Hamilton made of the football and basketball programs.
I wish him well in his new pursuits but I'm glad he is no longer associated with UT athletics.
farragutfanatic writes:
good luck mike, time for everyone to look ahead and let the past be.
FWBVol writes:
I'm a big Kippy Brown fan, but obviously he wasn't the right choice for the job. Everyone talks about Phillip Fulmer not getting any big offers, or offers at all since Hamilton and the power brokers fired him, but Kippy has had one head coaching job and that was in the XFL.
Shortly after Hamilton hired Dooley, David Climer from the Tennessean wrote a column in which he said he helped Kippy get an interview for the Tennessee State job a few years ago and TSU passed on him. As I've said, I'm a Kippy fan, but I have to wonder if Kippy is such a great coach why didn't a historically black university give him a job?
There are a lot of great career assistant coaches out there that don't have what it takes to be a head coach. The fact is most assistant coaches in high school, college and the NFL never rise to the level of coordinator, much less head coach.
I can't deny UT scored in bunches when Kippy was wide receivers coach, but again, when Walt Harris left why didn't the assistant OC get the coordinator job instead of Phillip Fulmer. Perhaps it was Harris and Fulmer calling the shots?
You are full of facts supporting Kippy, but you won't admit the facts about Derek Dooley. He took over a La. Tech program that was in worse shape than UT and had the Bulldogs in a bowl game his second year. Lack of depth and injuries in Dooley's third year at La Tech caused a step backwards. Dooley faced many of the same rebuilding and refurbushing projects at Tech as he has at UT, only those problems might be worse.
People like you keep bad mouthing CDD because he hasn't won quickly enough. His record in his first year at UT was better than Majors' record in 1977 or 1978. It took Johnny close to six years to start winning consistently and there were less scholarship restrictions than there are today and Florida wasn't the power it is now.
I could be wrong, but I believe Dooley will get that first big win some time this month. Hopefully it will be Saturday. If not this Saturday, maybe next week or in Tuscaloosa (a long shot, yes). And then there is always South Carolina.
But this story was about Mike Hamilton taking a job with a non-profit organization. There is no doubt Hamilton made some questionable and he definitely made some bad hires, but that doesn't mean he isn't a good man.
I wish Mike Hamilton well in his new endevours.
GhostofCafego writes:
Maybe he should try to raise some money for causes in the USA since this country is in the crapper.
bUTchVFL writes:
Best wishes to you Mike. Nashville is a great city.
thevoice writes:
Classy comment.
VolzsFan writes:
Think Hammy will give Kiffin a job when he gets fired soon?
Caneoverthere writes:
Best of Wishes Mike - IMO - you are a good man.
shipperman#280095 writes:
TJ was correct...And we haven't seen Fulmer being offered any jobs in the business either
underthehill writes:
Right u r..I don't think anyone on here knows what donors actually call the shots and how little authority the AD actually has..I know I don't ..I think Hamilton and this guy Florida State ran off are mere errand boys paid to take the blame when things go wrong..get the praise when things go right..good luck in your honorable endeavor Mr. Hamilton...
Noogaorange writes:
If there was any doubt this post clears things up you ........ are indeed a complete idiot! GBO
9thSon writes:
Good Luck, Mike
snakeplissken writes:
Glad you're gone mikey. Knoxville didn't want you hanging around town. By the way, did Jimmy Sexton get you this gig? For all of your ineptness which lined Sexton's pockets with money that's the least he could have done. AMF!!!
civilianvol_formerly_marinevol writes:
I love the subtlety of that comment. Very good.
timetotellthetruth writes:
you have no brains and no class
timetotellthetruth writes:
it's amazing how little you know.
dvols writes:
successful people will always be successful....
thanks Mr. Hamilton for the millions you created in bball and Shield Watkins Field improvements....and not to mention the UT practice facilities that will bring recruits in for the next twenty years!
truth
VolnTex writes:
Mike Hamilton is giving his life away to something that will last far longer that UT athletics. We should all stop to think if we are doing the same.
By the way, what is the definition of a 'troll' around here? Anyone who disagrees with the party line?
BillsBrother writes:
I had the privilege of sitting at a table with Mr Hamilton at one of the Vol dinners.
After that experience and watching what he did to our athletic program, I have no idea how people can refer to the man as a "wonderful person".
gortrtt writes:
All I will say is that, for the sake of the children who might benefit from this organization's efforts, I hope Hamilton succeeds at his new endeavor.
Check out a quote from the blog announcement of Hamilton's hiring on the B:WM site:
"Hamilton joins Blood:Water Mission after nearly 20 years at the University of Tennessee, where he spent the past 8 years as Athletic Director. During his tenure, he more than tripled the fundraising revenue as well as created one of only 14 self-sustaining athletic departments in the country, providing an additional nearly $10 million annually in direct cash support for the university."
Mike Hamilton "created one of only 14 self-sustaining athletic departments in the country"? Where did they get that notion?
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