UTimeline: Key dates in Hart's tenure as Vols AD

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2016, file photo, Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart answers questions during a press conference in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart says he is retiring effective June 30 after a five-year run in which he managed the consolidation of the men's and women's athletic departments while also dealing with plenty of controversy. (Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2016, file photo, Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart answers questions during a press conference in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart says he is retiring effective June 30 after a five-year run in which he managed the consolidation of the men's and women's athletic departments while also dealing with plenty of controversy. (Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, File)

A timeline of key dates in Dave Hart's tenure as athletic director at the University of Tennessee:

Sept. 5, 2011

- Tennessee names Dave Hart the university's vice chancellor and director of athletics. His entrance comes less than three months after the school announced the merger of its men's and women's athletic departments and just two weeks after legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt revealed she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

April 18, 2012

- Summitt announces her retirement after 38 seasons, 1,098 victories and eight national championships. She later indicated in an affidavit that she felt forced out by Hart but followed up with a statement saying there was a misunderstanding and that it was her decision to retire. Her former player and longtime assistant Holly Warlick is named head coach.

photo ESPN is reporting that former Tennessee coach Derek Dooley will be hired as the wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

Nov. 18, 2012

- Hart fires third-year football coach Derek Dooley the day after the Volunteers lose 41-18 to Vanderbilt. The loss ensured the Vols would finish with a losing record for the third season in a row for the first time since 1911.

photo Head coach Butch Jones bellows instructions into his microphone during Tennessee's practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 2, 2016.

Dec. 7, 2012

- University of Cincinnati coach Butch Jones is named Dooley's successor. Hart targeted Louisville's Charlie Strong and Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy before hiring Jones, who was pursued by Colorado and Purdue as well. "We look forward to Butch leading our football program back to prominence," Hart says in a university release.

Nov. 23, 2013

- The Vols lose 14-10 to Vanderbilt, ensuring they will finish with a losing record for the fourth straight season. The loss comes just weeks after an upset of No. 9 South Carolina created optimism for Tennessee's bowl chances.

March 23, 2014

- Hart embraces men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin on the court after the Vols defeat Mercer to advance to the Sweet 16. Their run in the tournament follows a roller coaster of a season in which fans circulated a petition calling for the return of former coach Bruce Pearl, who was fired after the 2010-11 season for lying to NCAA investigators.

April 15, 2014

- Martin accepts the head coach's job at California two weeks after pulling his name out of consideration for the Marquette job and saying "Tennessee is where I want to be." Hart says Martin's departure caught him a bit off guard.

photo Donnie Tyndall answers questions from the media at the Big Orange Caravan appearance at The Chattanoogan in this file photo.

April 22, 2014

- Southern Mississippi coach Donnie Tyndall is announced as the new men's basketball coach. Asked about Tyndall's previous NCAA compliance trouble, Hart says, "We looked into that very thoroughly and were absolutely satisfied at the end of that examination that we had no concerns moving forward."

Nov. 10, 2014

- Tennessee announces a "branding restructure" ahead of its switch from Adidas to Nike apparel in 2015 that leaves the women's basketball program as the only team in the athletic department still nicknamed the "Lady Vols." The rest of the women's teams are converted to the Vols, with their primary logos changed to the "Power T."

photo Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes directs his team against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Jan. 2, 2015

- Tennessee beats Iowa 45-28 in the TaxSlayer Bowl for its first bowl victory in seven years. The Vols finish the season 7-6.

March 27, 2015

- Tennessee announces it is terminating Tyndall's contract as an NCAA investigation into the coach's actions at Southern Mississippi nears its conclusion. Following his firing, Tyndall was given a 10-year show-cause penalty, effectively ending his ability to coach at the NCAA level during that span.

photo Workers replace a banner honoring the late Pat Summitt, former women's basketball coach at Tennessee, on Monday, July 11, 2016, in Knoxville, Tenn. The original banner was damaged during a recent storm. A celebration of life program honoring Summitt is scheduled to be held at the university's basketball arena Thursday, July 14. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

March 31, 2015

- Hart makes a quick move as former Texas coach Rick Barnes is announced as Tyndall's replacement. Barnes guided the Longhorns to 16 NCAA tournament appearances in his 17 seasons there and is widely regarded as a favorable hire.

Jan. 1, 2016

- Tennessee beats Northwestern in the Outback Bowl 45-6 to end the season 8-4 and solidify its status as the early favorite to win the SEC East in 2016.

June 21, 2016

- Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek, 69, announces he is stepping down. Cheek was named chancellor in 2009 and hired Hart in 2011. Cheek, who spent 34 years at the University of Florida before coming to Tennessee, will remain in the role until his successor is chosen.

June 28, 2016

- Summitt dies at the age of 64.

July 5, 2016

- Tennessee reaches a $2.48 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by eight female plaintiffs claiming the university violated Title IX regulations through a policy of indifference toward sexual assaults committed by athletes. The allegations made by the eight plaintiffs pertained to incidents that happened during Hart's tenure.

Aug. 18, 2016

- Hart announces his retirement, effective June 30, 2017.

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