KNOXVILLE – Phillip Fulmer will be employed again by the University of Tennessee.
University president Joe DiPietro announced Tuesday that he is hiring Fulmer, a former Tennessee football player, assistant and head coach, as special adviser to the president for community, athletics and university relations.
The move comes several months after Fulmer was reportedly a candidate to become Tennessee’s next athletic director. The job went to Kansas State athletic director and former Tennessee athletic department staffer John Currie.
Fulmer, Currie and DiPietro will meet with media Tuesday afternoon.
“As a native Tennessean who has given his all for the Vols throughout his life, both as a student-athlete on the field and during a Hall of Fame coaching career leading our program to its most dominant and successful era in modern history, Coach Fulmer is a perfect ambassador for our University and athletics program,” Currie said in a news release announcing Fulmer’s new role.
Fulmer will “serve as an ambassador” for the university system at community and athletic events, support the athletic programs in the system and work as a university advocate with elected officials and alumni, according to the release.
As Tennessee’s football coach from 1992-2008, Fulmer directed the Volunteers to the 1998 national championship. The Winchester, Tenn., native played for Tennessee, graduating in 1972, and was an assistant before taking over the program.
This is a developing story. See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for more details.