Fans: Tennessee’s search for a new head coach couldn’t possibly get any weirder.
Tennessee coach search: Hold my beer…Last night, reports surfaced that Tennessee had focused on Mike Leach as its next head coach after the Washington State coach met with athletic director John Currie. Less than 24 hours later, amidst chatter that Currie had gone rogue in his pursuit of Leach, it’s being reported that Currie has been fired by UT.
The reported parting of ways came after a meeting between Currie and university officials Friday morning.
Just filed to ESPN: Tennessee has parted ways with AD John Currie on the heels of what has been a disastrous Tennessee coaching search. He met with university officials on Friday morning, and the decision was made then.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 1, 2017
Per @Volquest_Rivals sources: "John Currie no longer works at Tennessee."
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) December 1, 2017
Even more intriguing is how the ouster came about. Reportedly.
Industry source: “Throughout this entire (#Tennessee) coaching search Phil Fulmer has tried to undermine AD John Currie in hopes of becoming the AD there.” https://t.co/Z2v03Nkd2h
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 1, 2017
Sources: John Currie was prepared to hire Mike Leach but university officials wouldn’t allow him to do so. Phillip Fulmer has been sabotaging search process in hopes to become Tennessee’s AD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2017
Nearly nine months ago to the day, Currie was hired by UT after holding the same job at Kansas State. One of those in the running for the job? Fulmer, the former Volunteers head coach who is now expected to assume the athletic director reins.
As for where this leaves the search to replace Butch Jones? Expect to hear Tee Martin‘s name in the coming days.