The University of Tennessee has hired Danny White to run its athletics department and scheduled a press conference on the Knoxville, Tennessee, campus this afternoon.
Already, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has formally introduced White to the Volunteers' and Lady Volunteers' athletics staff in an internal email, exclusively obtained by FootballScoop.
“I'm excited to share with you that we have hired Danny White as our next Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics,” Plowman said in the message. “I'm confident that Danny's leadership, paired with the talent and resources here at Tennessee – will yield extraordinary success for our comprehensive athletics program.
“Danny is an innovative leader with a strong track record for recruiting and developing strong leaders and teams.”
Though the search to replace Phillip Fulmer, “sun-set into retirement,” as a source told FootballScoop, officially only lasted three days, Plowman and UT President Randy Boyd had secured the Parker Executive Search firm last weekend to aid in its process to find Fulmer's replacement.
Of White, who has hired four majorly successful coaches – football leaders Lance Leipold, Scott Frost and Josh Heupel, as well as then-Buffalo and now-Alabama head basketball coach Nate Oats – Plowman touted both White's vision and his roots in collegiate athletics in the memo.
“Danny is an innovative leader with a strong track record for recruiting and developing strong leaders and teams. The son of distinguished longtime Division I A.D. Kevin White, Danny literally has a lifetime of experience in intercollegiate athletics.
“Danny's record of success during his AD tenures at Buffalo (2012-15) and UCF (2015-present) speaks for itself.”
Plowman then shared a glimpse into the schedule for White in the coming days.
“Danny will be traveling to Tennessee (Friday) with his family to meet with as many people as he can this weekend, including our football team. He will also do a media availability.”
Tennessee's chancellor then concluded her introductory message with the following statement:
“I'm eager for all of you to have the opportunity to meet and visit with Danny as we all work together to help our student-athletes achieve excellence.”