Mike Strange: Dave Hart final piece of UT puzzle

Staging a news conference isn't a terrible expense for an athletic program with a $100 million budget. But when you hold as many as the University of Tennessee has, it does begin to add up.

There was another one Monday night. It might be the last for a while.

Chancellor Jimmy Cheek described hiring Dave Hart as vice chancellor and director of athletics as the "final piece of the puzzle."

I don't blame Cheek for hoping so. He has a university to run and athletic misadventures have certainly cut into his time with the architecture faculty.

Athletics, as Hart himself said Monday, should never be the most important thing on campus, but it is the most visible element.

Dave Hart introduced as UT's Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics - Pt. 1

Cheek, an academician by trade, has been learning that in spades since the UT AD began reporting to the Knoxville campus chancellor's office.

In the past 34 months, UT has held news conferences to fire Phillip Fulmer, hire Lane Kiffin, bid a hasty adios to Kiffin and welcome Derek Dooley. And that's just one sport.

There have been news conferences to announce Bruce Pearl's NCAA transgressions, and, months later, to introduce Pearl's successor, Cuonzo Martin.

There has been another to hail Dave Serrano as Todd Raleigh's replacement in baseball, and another to recognize Joan Cronan as interim AD while the search for Mike Hamilton's successor was conducted the past three months.

Then there are the uncounted hours dealing with an NCAA investigation that drug on 28 months before reaching conclusion last month.

Finally, Hart is in place at the top of the athletic department's organizational chart.

"What we've got to do is look to the future,'' Cheek said.

The future. Hart, a decorated and experienced administrator, went to great pains Monday to emphasize he plans to be around for the future.

He's 62, had returned to his alma mater, Alabama, three years ago for an administrative post that had the markings of a last stop before retirement.

And now here he was Monday night in Neyland Stadium, wearing an orange-and-white striped tie, embarking on a whole new challenge.

"My driver's license has my number on it,'' he said. "I know how old I am.

"But I don't feel that. I have the same energy I had 15 years ago.''

He won't have to expend any energy making major coaching moves, not right off the bat. His football, baseball and men's basketball coaches all are fresh hires. Pat Summitt's health is the only cloud in that regard.

"We have three young people who have all the right things you need to be successful," Hart said. "That's an exciting element of this position.''

His challenge, he said, rather than stamping his legacy with coaching hires is to reunite a fractured fan base.

"I know the history,'' he said. "I'm aware there are still wounds out there for a variety of reasons.''

Most of the reasons entailed a news conference. The body count is high.

The first was in November 2008, a grim, emotional Fulmer sitting at the same table Hart and Cheek occupied Monday night.

Maybe Tennessee's turbulence has come full-circle now. Maybe Hart's leadership can heal the wounds.

He's been around long enough to know the best remedy is winning.

Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/strangemike44 and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/strange.