Former Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer has a new job with the University of Tennessee.
University president Joe DiPietro announced Tuesday that Fulmer is being hired on as a special advisor to the president for community, athletics, and university relations.
According to a press release from the university, Fulmer’s role will be to “serve as an ambassador for the University system at community and athletics events, support the intercollegiate athletic programs at UT campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, and work with UT government relations and alumni affairs leadership to advocate for the statewide system with elected officials and UT alumni.”
Fulmer has been a volunteer for UT through the UT President’s Council since 2015 and was awarded the 2016 President’s Council Award for his efforts with the council. Fulmer was also up for consideration for Tennessee’s vacant athletic director position earlier this year before that position was ultimately filled by John Currie.
“This is a special opportunity for me,” Fulmer stated. “I’ve had the chance to work with Dr. DiPietro for a couple of years in a volunteer capacity, and I was excited when he approached me with this position.
“I look forward to serving UT campuses statewide, our communities, and UT athletics for the greater good for our great state and the university.”
Currie, who was in the athletic department during the latter end of Fulmer’s coaching career at Tennessee, called Fulmer “a perfect ambassador” and stated he is “honored to work with him.”
“As a native Tennessean who has given his all for the Vols throughout his life, both as a student-athlete on the field and during a Hall of Fame coaching career leading our program to its most dominant and successful era in modern history, Coach Fulmer is a perfect ambassador for our University and athletics program,” Currie stated. “I’ve appreciated and enjoyed numerous visits with Coach Fulmer since I returned to Knoxville, and I am honored to work with him in support of President DiPietro and Chancellor Davenport as we serve the University of Tennessee, our students and student-athletes.”
Phillip Fulmer has been a part of the University of Tennessee in some capacity for over four decades. Fulmer was an offensive lineman for the Vols starting in 1968 and was an assistant coach from 1980 till 1992 when he was named head coach during the season. He won two conference titles and the 1998 National Championship as head coach of the Vols before being let go after the 2008 season. Fulmer was 151-52-1 all-time as Tennessee’s head coach. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
