The steady leadership of men's director of athletics Mike Hamilton has the University of Tennessee Volunteers ranked among the nation's most respected and highly-regarded programs.

Since Hamilton accepted his current position in 2003, he has overseen competitiveness of Tennessee teams, graduation of student-athletes, compliance with NCAA and SEC rules, strong financial management, and the growth of the athletics department's service to the university and community.

In Hamilton's three most recent years as athletics director, Tennessee twice has finished in the top 10 of the Director's Cup all-sports standings. The Vols brought home SEC titles during spring 2007 in golf and outdoor track and field and the athletics department saw 19 of its 20 varsity teams compete in postseason play last year.

The on-field and on-court products continue to be the nation's No. 1 draw, as Tennessee remains the only NCAA school to finish among the top five attendance leaders in football, men's basketball and women's basketball in the same season. The Vols and Lady Vols turned the trick for the fourth time in 2006-07.

Also during the last academic year, 75 Vols and Lady Vols graduated from the University of Tennessee, continuing Tennessee athletics' commitment to excellence in the classroom. UTAD currently is working with more than 20 former student-athletes who left UT to pursue professional athletic careers and returned to finish their degrees through the Renewing Academic Commitment (RAC) Program out of the Thornton Center.

A major focus for Hamilton is ensuring UT has the facilities it needs for its student-athletes and coaches to compete for championships. In the fall of 2004, Hamilton unveiled a master plan to prepare Neyland Stadium for the next 75 years. One key goal of the master plan was to find a way to fund the renovations without financially impacting the general fan. The renovations will be completed in five phases during the off-seasons to alleviate inconveniences on fans. Phase 1, which included the expansion of the lower north concourse with new restrooms and concessions, infrastructure improvements and the addition of the East Club, was completed for the 2006 season. Hamilton is also focused on other facility projects such as the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Regal Soccer Stadium, Lee Softball Stadium, Pratt Pavilion Basketball Practice Facility as well as improvements to Thompson-Boling Arena and Lindsey Nelson Stadium, which should all be completed during the 2007-08 school year.

Hamilton has initiated these major facility campaigns while still reducing expenses to ensure that the University of Tennessee can continue to be one of the few athletics departments in the country that receives no funds from state subsidies or taxes. The only non-athletic department generated revenue is a $1 million contribution to women's athletics from student fees. During his tenure, the reserve fund for athletics has grown by approximately $4 million, and the overall budget for athletics has grown from $59 million in FY 2003 to $79.46 million in FY 2008. Giving to athletics has also grown substantially under Hamilton, from $20.6 million in fiscal year 2003 to $33 million in fiscal year 2007.

Since Hamilton's arrival at UT in 1992, more than $261 million has been raised for athletics.

While Hamilton is focused on ensuring the financial viability of athletics, he is also committed to giving back to the University. Last year, the athletics department contributed more than $25 million back to the university in some fashion, including $1.375 million in academic scholarships for non-student athletes, $500,000 for the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, and $1.125 million for annual debt service on five University parking garages as well as approximately $11.99 million in athletic benefits to University employees and students through free or reduced rate tickets to sporting events, licensing revenue, and tickets for the University alumni association fundraising purposes.

Hamilton previously served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations, earning that promotion in September 2002, and has been on the UT staff since 1992.

The 44-year-old Hamilton, who grew up in Brevard, N.C., served as assistant director of the Deacon Club at Wake Forest University before joining the Vols staff in 1992. He earlier had served as a graduate assistant in fundraising at his alma mater, Clemson University, where he earned both a bachelor's of science in accounting and a master's in business administration.

Hamilton was honored in the spring of 1998 when the National Association of Athletic Development Directors named him National Fundraiser of the Year. In 2006 he was name to the NCAA Academics, Eligibility and Compliance Cabinet.

Hamilton is chairman-elect of the Knox Area Chamber Partnership and serves on the board of directors of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. He and his wife Beth are founders of the Mike and Beth Hamilton Celebrity Golf Classic, which has raised more than $175,000 for adoption services for Bethany Christian Services.

Hamilton and his wife, the former Elizabeth Merrill, also from Brevard, are parents of a daughter, Madison, and a son, Matthew.

PERSONAL DATA

BORN
Aug. 13, 1963, in Brevard, N.C.

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
Brevard High School.

COLLEGE EDUCATION
B.S. Accounting, Clemson University 1985, MBA, Clemson University 1988.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER
NCNB Corp., Tampa, Fla., 1985-86; Clemson IPTAY Club, 1986-88; Assistant Director, Wake Forest Deacon Club, 1988-92; UT Assistant Athletics Director, Development, 1992-96; UT Associate Athletics Director, Development & Marketing, 1996-2002, UT Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development & Marketing, 2002-03; UT Director of Athletics, 2003-present.

WIFE
Elizabeth (Beth) Merrill Hamilton.

CHILDREN
Madison (4/23/96); Matthew, (6/29/99)