KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee athletic director John Currie says athletes for all women’s sports at the school can refer to themselves as the Lady Volunteers, changing a decision his predecessor made three years ago.
Former athletic director Dave Hart announced in November 2014 the Lady Vols nickname and logo would be phased out for all sports other than women’s basketball. Hart’s decision took effect in July 2015.
Currie announced Thursday a plan to “restore the prominence” of the Lady Vols brand. The decision gives student-athletes the option to call themselves and their teams the Lady Vols. The school also will restore the Lady Vols logo to Tennessee’s athletic venues.
Currie said school releases on Tennessee women’s teams likely will refer to them as the Volunteers or Lady Vols interchangeably.
Former women’s AD Joan Cronan attended the press conference. She was in favor of keeping the women’s logo.