UTC's David Blackburn says no official contact with UT on job

#26
#26
LWSVOL said:
OP, officially we can;t contact anyone. Until we have a chancellor in place (chancellor makes the hire) there is no one to officially make contact.

Be patient, this will be over by Christmas.
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Would UTK hang UTC out to dry by not letting him resolve the Head Coaching position if by chance Huesman leaves for Richmond?
 
#27
#27
volfan102455 said:
I don't understand it either. UTC has always been able to draw and have good coaches.

Not saying he has not done a good job there - but he walked into a job where a good foundation already existed.
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Well said. It isn't like he's done a bad job but he appears to have inherited a pretty good situation. UTC has always had solid men's and women's basketball programs and attracts good mid-major coaches.

This reminds me of Georgia hiring Kirby Smart last year. I wasn't convinced he'd be a bad coach, but the absolute conviction many in the Georgia fanbase had that he would be an amazing coach confounded me.
 
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#28
#28
LWSVOL said:
OP, officially we can;t contact anyone. Until we have a chancellor in place (chancellor makes the hire) there is no one to officially make contact.

Be patient, this will be over by Christmas.
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I don't mean to read between the lines, but what you're basically saying is that Santa Clause is real. Right?
 
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#29
#29
this is a...we're at a cross roads decision...hope UTK powers get it right...:crossfingers:

GO VOLS!
 
#30
#30
volfan102455 said:
Would UTK hang UTC out to dry by not letting him resolve the Head Coaching position if by chance Huesman leaves for Richmond?
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Not sure of the transition schedule. Could be he works both positions for a period of time. Just haven't heard time frame. I'm sure he can help with staffing here even if at UTC
 
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#32
#32
05_never_again said:
Well said. It isn't like he's done a bad job but he appears to have inherited a pretty good situation. UTC has always had solid men's and women's basketball programs and attracts good mid-major coaches.

This reminds me of Georgia hiring Kirby Smart last year. I wasn't convinced he'd be a bad coach, but the absolute conviction many in the Georgia fanbase had that he would be an amazing coach confounded me.
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I don't think they are just reviewing his 3 years at UTC but his 27 years working in athletic departments. Many of those years managing various departments within the AD.

His main competition has zero experience running an athletic department. The 3-4 others they checked with were not interested in engaging in talks about the position for various reasons.
 
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#33
#33
I have every confidence that we will hire the completely Wrong person for the job!! :no:

Probably some Lefty, PC, SJW football Hater! :realmad:



.
 
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#34
#34
Chilmonty said:
I have every confidence that we will hire the completely Wrong person for the job!! :no:

Probably some Lefty, PC, SJW football Hater! :realmad:



.
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NO bleu font, but I hope you are wrong. On the other hand, there is a sorry history in too many instances. I am worried. :unsure:
 
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#35
#35
LWSVOL said:
she will be the chancellor after Thursday. expect quick action. She won't wait to get here to make this happen.

you right, AD needed right away to help Butch with staffing decisions
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LW, don't see an AD hire until atleast Jan 1st. Tn higher education hires are on the 1st or 15th. You think they make an exception here?
 
#37
#37
LWSVOL said:
yeah.. I think they might.... :good!:
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Works for me! Lol


My first hire was Jan 1, 2000 which was a Saturday and I started on Monday Jan 3, 2000.

Transferred in July 2014. They wanted me to start July 1 and I told them I would rather give my two week notice so I started on the 15th.
 
#38
#38
Orange_Vol1321 said:
Works for me! Lol


My first hire was Jan 1, 2000 which was a Saturday and I started on Monday Jan 3, 2000.

Transferred in July 2014. They wanted me to start July 1 and I told them I would rather give my two week notice so I started on the 15th.
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its kind of like Davenport being announced as chancellor a few weeks ago, being approved on Thursday and not physically getting here until March. But she starts drawing pay before she gets here due to "doing work".

They can announce AD hire next week. He might not get here physically until sometime later but doesn't mean he can't do work remotely.
 
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#39
#39
05_never_again said:
Well said. It isn't like he's done a bad job but he appears to have inherited a pretty good situation. UTC has always had solid men's and women's basketball programs and attracts good mid-major coaches.

This reminds me of Georgia hiring Kirby Smart last year. I wasn't convinced he'd be a bad coach, but the absolute conviction many in the Georgia fanbase had that he would be an amazing coach confounded me.
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I'm sorry, but that's just not accurate. The situation he inherited at Chattanooga may not have been a total dumpster fire, but he was dealt a very difficult deck when he arrived at Chattanooga.

Their finances were in shambles, as were some of their facilities. They were way behind other Southern Conference schools in donations, facilities and support for student-athletes. Blackburn made those things his first priority and it allowed his programs to have the success that they are currently enjoying. Being an AD is much more than coaching hires, it's also about things like giving those coaches the resources to succeed.

Yes, Huesman was already there when Blackburn arrived. But it wasn't until Blackburn arrived and gave him more resources that he made the playoffs a year later in 2014. That was, by the way, UTC's first playoff appearance since 1984. They've gone back each of the next two years, and have won three SoCon titles in Blackburn's tenure.

The basketball successes have been noted everywhere. The 2015-16 season saw the Mocs become the first in the more than 100-year history of the Southern Conference win the football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball championships in the same year. UTC also won titles in volleyball and wrestling, while leading the SoCon in attendance in football and men’s and women’s basketball for the second year in a row.

The bottom line is that he took a middling UTC program and made it easily the best total athletics program in the Southern Conference.
 
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#41
#41
DeerPark12 said:
I'm sorry, but that's just not accurate. The situation he inherited at Chattanooga may not have been a total dumpster fire, but he was dealt a very difficult deck when he arrived at Chattanooga.

Their finances were in shambles, as were some of their facilities. They were way behind other Southern Conference schools in donations, facilities and support for student-athletes. Blackburn made those things his first priority and it allowed his programs to have the success that they are currently enjoying. Being an AD is much more than coaching hires, it's also about things like giving those coaches the resources to succeed.

Yes, Huesman was already there when Blackburn arrived. But it wasn't until Blackburn arrived and gave him more resources that he made the playoffs a year later in 2014. That was, by the way, UTC's first playoff appearance since 1984. They've gone back each of the next two years, and have won three SoCon titles in Blackburn's tenure.

The basketball successes have been noted everywhere. The 2015-16 season saw the Mocs become the first in the more than 100-year history of the Southern Conference win the football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball championships in the same year. UTC also won titles in volleyball and wrestling, while leading the SoCon in attendance in football and men’s and women’s basketball for the second year in a row.

The bottom line is that he took a middling UTC program and made it easily the best total athletics program in the Southern Conference.
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might be the best total athletics program in the state right now..
 
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#43
#43
I imagine that, somewhere on the Hill, there is a small room with a desk, a chair, and a Big Orange phone. The phone has a "name tag" that says " *Big Orange Phone". The asterisk is what makes it all work. (Maybe the brainchild of a law student)
 
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#47
#47
BeecherVol said:
Why would the next coach be hired by a guy that's leaving?
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Well based on what most believe Blackburn "walks on water" and is the "best thing to ever happen to UTC" so if UTC's coach leaves then wouldn't you want someone who "walks on water and is the best thing ever" to hire the next coach?

But then again he did not hire Huesman to start with so maybe whomever did can assist with that.
 
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#48
#48
Watch for the key words.

There's been no "OFFICIAL" discussions with UTK.

No telling how much UN-official discussions and negotiations have been going on.

I'll trust what LWS and deerpark tell us.

VFL...GBO!!!
 
#49
#49
DeerPark12 said:
I

Their finances were in shambles, as were some of their facilities. They were way behind other Southern Conference schools in donations, facilities and support for student-athletes. Blackburn made those things his first priority and it allowed his programs to have the success that they are currently enjoying. Being an AD is much more than coaching hires, it's also about things like giving those coaches the resources to succeed.
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Finley Stadium was built long before Blackburn arrived. UTC in general, not just for athletics, has made great strides in the facilities and academic programs they offer on campus.

Playing at Tennessee and at Alabama brings in money which does help cushion the losses somewhat. Winning football gets people interested in the team as that is when the fair weather fans pay attention to the team.

The location of UTC makes it a difficult draw. Most in the area are either Tennessee, Georgia or Alabama fans and when presented with a choice only the die hard Moc fans will opt for the local game.
 
#50
#50
From JB this morning

On Thursday in Nashville, Beverly Davenport will be confirmed by the University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees in a modified meeting in Nashville.

It’s the final formal hurdle for Davenport, and the last piece that clears the way for tabbing the replacement for the forced-out Dave Hart, whom sources have said is not likely finishing very far beyond the bowl game.

So, again, what is the latest on the athletics director’s search? It’s a two-man battle between Chattanooga’s David Blackburn and UT assistant Jon Gilbert, per all we know.

It’s still widely held to be Blackburn’s job as the runaway leader, with folks saying, "I’m not sure Vegas would put a line of this one."

Gilbert, however, could be in position to claim his own top spot sooner than later. It’s a situation to continue monitoring. But as one person apprised of goings-on throughout said late Tuesday night, “I like Jon. A lot. But why get rid of Dave if you’re going with Gilbert?”

There remain strong indications the post should be filled before Christmas, though some have suggested that’s mere speculation and that New Year's remains more feasible. Regardless, UT needs a permanent leader and in a hurry.

As one BCS-conference, senior-level employee relayed to 247Sports within the past week about Blackburn, “Tennessee better hire David Blackburn. He’s one of the greatest men I’ve ever worked for.”
 
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