Tennessee Vols athletics are going to be forced to undergo a change. On Thursday, Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart announced he will retire from the position of Director of Athletics, effective June 30, 2017.
Hart is currently entering his sixth-year with the program.
“As I thought about finishing this job well and how extremely proud I am of what everyone in our department has contributed collectively to get us to where we are today, I decided that this was a good time to set a target to wrap up my career as a Director of Athletics,” Hart said in a statement from the university.
“Our University will name a new Chancellor at some point prior to the conclusion of the academic year which has just begun. This decision will allow that individual to select his or her own person to this leadership role and allow me to lead us through what promises to be a very exciting upcoming year in many respects. The positive energy is tangible, not only in our building, but among Volunteer fans everywhere. That is very gratifying to witness.”
UT System President Joe DiPietro was pleased with how Hart is handling his retirement.
“I appreciate Dave’s decision and his willingness to work with us as we recruit a new Chancellor and a new athletics director,” DiPietro said.
But while Hart is stepping down, Vols fans shouldn’t be too concerned that he’s fading off into the sunset.
“We will wrap up our three year fundraising campaign this fall which has enabled all of our facilities enhancements to come to fruition,” Hart said. “There are other priorities to address as we progress through this year.
“My intent is to retire from the role as Athletics Director on June 30, not to retire in the purest sense of the word. There will be another challenge out there. I plan to continue to assist and inspire people in some manner moving forward. Right now, I am excited about what this year has in store for us on Rocky Top.”
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
