Report: Phillip Fulmer to be named Tennessee's athletic director

The Tennessee Volunteers fired AD John Currie on Friday as their search for a new football coach drags on and becomes more embarrassing by the hour.

Back before the Vols hired Currie, though, former coach Phillip Fulmer was reported to be in the mix for the position and may have been sabotaging Currie, according to a report that came out Friday.

Now, though, Fulmer will get his chance, according to Tennessee insider Jimmy Hyams. Hyams tweeted on Friday afternoon that Fulmer would be named Tennessee’s AD at a 4 p.m. press conference:

While UT considered Reid Sigmon for interim AD job to replace the fired John Currie, Phillip Fulmer will be named the athletic director at the 4 pm presser, but don't know if full time or interim. With Fulmer at the helm, don't be surprised if pool of candidates opens up.

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) December 1, 2017

Hyams added that the coaching search might go much better under Fulmer, as the former Vols’ coach has some major clout.

Fulmer led the Vols to a national title in 1998 with Tee Martin as his quarterback. Could Martin end up being the guy in the Vols’ search? That remains to be seen, but Fulmer likely won’t waste much time getting a guy to coach in Knoxville, whether it’s Martin or another big-name candidate.