In a story first reported by 247Sports this morning and since independently confirmed by RTI and others, Chris Spognardi has been relieved of his duties as Director of Football Operations and has been put on paid administrative leave by the school.
Spognardi was formally elevated to Director of Football Operations in 2014 after coming to Tennessee with Butch Jones from Cincinnati in 2012. He served as Assistant to the Head Coach in 2013 before the promotion.
After graduating from Central Michigan in 2008, Spognardi began his career as a student assistant at CMU, worked his way up to video coordinator with the Chippewas and then essentially has run day-to-day operations for Jones at both Tennessee and Cincinnati under different formal titles.
He’s known around the program as one of Jones’ closest friends and confidants, making Wednesday’s news all the more surprising.
The original report from 247Sports called this a “legal matter” and Tennessee has yet to formally comment any further.
Update from WMNL’s Jimmy Hyams:
Sources: UT or state auditors found discrepancies that led
to investigation and Spognardi being placed on administrative leave— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) August 10, 2016
