University of Tennessee Athletics
Dave Hart Announces Retirement
August 18, 2016 | General
Aug. 18, 2016
Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, Dave Hart, who is entering his sixth year at the helm of the Volunteer Athletics program, announced Thursday that he will retire from the position of Director of Athletics, effective June 30, 2017.
In accepting Hart's decision to retire, UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said, "Dave's greatest accomplishment is making UT a student-athlete-focused department. His drive for comprehensive excellence has touched all facets of athletics. Our student athletes have the highest overall grade point average in the history of the program, exceeding a 3.0 and fundraising is having a record year. He has restructured the department for greater efficiency and created a long-term sustainable financial model."
Cheek added, "Dave has worked with our coaches to make us nationally competitive. He has focused on compliance and doing things the right way in the class room and on the field. His work and determination have put UT sports in a strong position for the future."
UT System President Joe DiPietro also acknowledged the significance of Hart's many contributions to the athletics department and the university. "I appreciate Dave's decision and his willingness to work with us as we recruit a new Chancellor and a new athletics director," DiPietro said.
Hart has turned around the athletics department financially, structurally and academically while re-energizing a now healthy Volunteer football program. His department has seen record-breaking historical results in fundraising and academic success.
"As I thought about finishing this job well and how extremely proud I am of what everyone in our department has contributed collectively to get us to where we are today, I decided that this was a good time to set a target to wrap up my career as a Director of Athletics," Hart said.
"Our University will name a new Chancellor at some point prior to the conclusion of the academic year which has just begun. This decision will allow that individual to select his or her own person to this leadership role and allow me to lead us through what promises to be a very exciting upcoming year in many respects. The positive energy is tangible, not only in our building, but among Volunteer fans everywhere. That is very gratifying to witness."
Hart said he does not have any specific plans beyond his focus on this coming academic year but does not envision becoming idle after that.
"We will wrap up our three year fundraising campaign this fall which has enabled all of our facilities enhancements to come to fruition," Hart said. "There are other priorities to address as we progress through this year.
"My intent is to retire from the role as Athletics Director on June 30, not to retire in the purest sense of the word. There will be another challenge out there. I plan to continue to assist and inspire people in some manner moving forward. Right now, I am excited about what this year has in store for us on Rocky Top."
For a full bio on Dave Hart, please click HERE
Greg Sankey
Southeastern Conference Commissioner
Greg Sankey | Southeastern Conference Commissioner
"I have enjoyed my relationship with Dave Hart in his role at two SEC institutions where he has provided valuable insight from his experience as a veteran athletics administrator. I look forward to working with him in his final year at Tennessee and will always value his friendship. I wish all the best to Dave and Pam in the next chapter of their lives."
Jeremy Foley | University of Florida Director of Athletics
"Dave and I have been colleagues for a number of years, we've had shared many experiences together and have enjoyed competing against each other often. Whenever we won a championship in any sport, one of the first calls I received was from Dave, and I always appreciated it. His longevity in the business speaks for itself, and I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement."
Beth Alford-Sullivan | Director of Track & Field/XC
"Dave Hart and (Senior Associate AD) Donna Thomas hired me to be UT's director of men's and women's track and field/cross country in the summer of 2014. Throughout that time and since I have been here on Rocky Top, the leadership and vision that Dave has displayed has impressed me completely. He has shown great support of my program and has helped us in the rebuilding process of these teams. He is a great person to work with--and to work for--and I will miss his competitive spirit, daily enthusiasm and loyalty to the success of UT athletics that he displays within this department every single day. On behalf of my entire program, we wish Dave, his wife, Pam, and their entire family our very best as they prepare to enter this next chapter of their lives."
Rick Barnes | Head Men's Basketball Coach
"I've been in this business for a long time and worked for some incredible athletic directors, and Dave Hart ranks among the best. He's accomplished many great things throughout his career, and he's been responsible for incredible progress in several areas during his time here at Tennessee. He's truly a wonderful man with a good heart, and I'm thankful that God brought us together.
"The University of Tennessee is on the verge of an extremely exciting era, and the run of success we are about to enjoy will--to a great extent--be because of the leadership Dave Hart displayed over the last five years."
Lisa Glenn | Head Rowing Coach
"Dave has been a great leader for the program and for us as head coaches. He has offered a working example of commitment to stay the established course through both accolades and adversity. Over the next several months and beyond, the strides we have made under his leadership will become increasingly apparent."
Butch Jones | Head Football Coach
"I'd like to thank Dave Hart for everything he's done for the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Football and for Butch Jones, as well. Everything is about leaving a place better than it was when you came here and I can tell you this; I think I speak for everyone and for every single coach that Dave Hart has made Tennessee Athletics much, much better because he's a leader. When you look at our academics, you look at our entire structure and you look at the morale, you look inside the building and all of the progress with the facilities, that's all his vision. So again, I'd like to say thank you to him."
Jim Kelson | Head Men's Golf Coach
"One thing that stands out to me about Dave Hart is the incredible efforts he puts forth on a daily basis to make our athletic department successful. It was that kind of effort that led to an amazing degree of organization and efficiency within our department. He has made an incredible difference here at Tennessee."
Matt Kredich | Head Swimming Coach
"There's no doubt that Dave Hart's focus has been on the student-athlete. The new dorm, the move to Nike, the enhancement of facilities for all sports--those are all reflections of his commitment to the Tennessee student-athlete experience. He got a lot of great things done here."
Mike Patrick | Head Women's Tennis Coach
"Dave had a hard task when he came here, and you can see what has changed. He put two athletic departments together. We are a harmonious group that works together now. Financially, we are on much sounder ground. He has enhanced several facilities. And we all are in a better place.
"He assigned women's tennis a great administrator in (Associate AD) Dara Worrell. We have worked closely with her. It's been a great relationship. Her and Dave have worked hard to try and get the things that we need done."
Rob Patrick | Head Volleyball Coach
"I appreciate the great leadership Dave Hart has provided our athletic department over the years. His commitment to our student-athletes has been obvious, and his commitment to the success of our volleyball program is shown in the beautiful new facility he made into a reality for us."
Judi Pavon | Head Women's Golf Coach
"Dave has been great to work for, and he has always been supportive of our program. He has been committed to the student-athletes and has made Tennessee an amazing place for them to compete and attend school."
Brian Pensky | Head Soccer Coach
"If we took a poll of the people hired here since 2011, I'd bet that nearly 100 percent of those individuals chose to come to Tennessee largely because of Dave Hart ... because of his intellect, his leadership, his vision, and his love for student-athletes.
"Mr. Hart was of course a very large reason why my family chose to move to Knoxville. He has been an absolute agent of change in his five-plus years here, all for the benefit of the student-athlete and our fan base. Mr. Hart is a family man first, never losing sight of the bigger picture. With every difficult decision that he has had to make along the way, it was always clear how heavy his heart was in each of those though moments. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Hart has given me and my family here at the University of Tennessee."
Dave Serrano | Head Baseball Coach
"I appreciate the leadership, dedication and effort that Dave has shown us as coaches and in our athletic department. He will leave Tennessee with athletics in a very strong position. Personally, Dave and Pam are very genuine people and have become good friends and they will be missed."
Holly Warlick | Head Women's Basketball Coach
"We will miss Dave's great leadership of our department. He has had some tough decisions to make as our athletics director. He was not afraid to make them and do what was best to unify Tennessee Athletics and get our department on the right track. You look around this campus, and there is plenty of evidence of his impact in getting numerous athletic facilities built or renovated--as well the construction of Pat Summitt Plaza and a new dorm and parking garage.
"He took a chance on me as a first-time head coach, and has been a supporter of our program and of me personally. I will forever be grateful for that support and encouragement, and I look forward to working with him during the rest of his tenure at UT."
Karen & Ralph Weekly | Co-Head Softball Coaches
"Dave has always put the student-athlete first. The softball facility has continued to improve under his leadership. He has been very supportive and ensures we have the resources to continue to compete at a very high level in the best conference in the country."
Sam Winterbotham | Head Men's Tennis Coach
"Dave has provided the department with such strong leadership since arriving on campus and has led by example with an unwavering vision and tireless work ethic. I have tremendous respect the man; for the way he leads by example, owning the incredibly tough decisions he's had to make. It's been an absolute pleasure getting to know him, and it's been inspiring to see how much passion Dave has to make things better... which, without doubt, he has accomplished in spades during his tenure here at the University of Tennessee. He will be sorely missed by us all."
