Duties & Responsibilities of Head Coach Emeritus

April 18, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee announced today that head women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, the all-time wins leader among NCAA basketball coaches, has been named head coach emeritus following 38 seasons (1974-2012) and 1,098 victories at Tennessee. Summitt will report to Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart and will serve in a variety of endeavors. In that capacity, she will continue to serve the women's basketball program and its coaching staff and as a liaison to the Director of Athletics, remain involved in on-campus recruiting, and serve as a personal mentor to players, including life skills coaching.

Associate head coach Holly Warlick, an assistant on the Tennessee staff for 27 seasons and a three-time All-American as a player for the Lady Vols, has been named Summitt's successor and will assume head coaching duties for the Tennessee women's basketball program.

"I've loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role," said Summitt. "I support Holly Warlick being named the next head coach, and I want to help ensure the stability of the program going forward. I would like to emphasize that I fully intend to continue working as head coach emeritus, mentoring and teaching life skills to our players, and I will continue my active role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer's through the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.

"If anyone asks, you can find me observing practice or in my office. Coaching is the great passion of my life, and the job to me has always been an opportunity to work with our student-athletes and help them discover what they want. I will continue to make them my passion. I love our players and my fellow coaches, and that's not going to change."

The all-time wins leader among college basketball coaches, Summitt finishes her 38-season career at Tennessee with a 1,098-208 record and an .841 winning pct. The Lady Vols won an unparalleled eight national championships under her leadership (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, and 2008) and played in 13 national championship games. Tennessee also won the SEC Championship and SEC Tournament title 16 times each, and Summitt was named SEC Coach of the Year eight times and NCAA Coach of the Year in seven seasons. Her sixth national championship team, the 1997-98 team, finished a perfect 39-0.

Additionally, the Tennessee women's basketball team has reached the NCAA Final Four 18 times, tied with the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program. Summitt's 18 trips to the Final Four is the most all-time among coaches, and her eight national titles trails only the 10 won by former UCLA coach John Wooden in Division I college basketball. Including the years as a member of the AIAW and four Final Four trips between 1977-81, Tennessee played in a combined 22 Final Fours overall during Summitt's tenure. The program has appeared in 25 NCAA Regional finals, posting an 18-7 record, and the Lady Vols are 48-1 all-time in NCAA First and Second Round games.

"It is extremely difficult to adequately express what Pat Summitt has meant to the University of Tennessee, the sport of basketball, and the growth of women's athletics nationally," said Hart. "She is an icon who does not view herself in that light, and her legacy is well-defined and everlasting. Just like there will never be another John Wooden, there will never be another Pat Summitt. I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role. She is an inspiration to everyone.

"Holly Warlick has earned the opportunity to be the head women's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee and to lead the Lady Vol program she has embraced as a player and a coach. I watched Holly grow tremendously as a coach throughout this past season. Under unique circumstances, the job she did away from the glare of the lights and crowds was as impressive as the job she did during game action. At this time in our historic program, which Pat Summitt built from scratch, Holly Warlick, the former player and longtime assistant coach, is deserving of the head coaching position. Her mentor will be available for insight and advice, but this is Holly's team now."

Warlick, who recently completed her 27th season as an assistant coach for Tennessee and her 31st overall with the program as a player or coach, is the first head coach of the Lady Vols other than Summitt since 1974, when Margaret Hutson completed a four-year tenure as the leader of the program (1971-74). Named associate head coach before the 2003-04 season, Warlick has been on the Tennessee coaching staff for all eight NCAA titles, and as a player or assistant, she has a role in 949 of Summitt's 1,098 victories at Tennessee.

"I'm very thankful for all Pat Summitt has done to prepare me for this opportunity," said Warlick. "She is my coach, mentor, and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program. I'd like to thank Dave Hart, Chancellor Cheek, and the University for having confidence in me to lead the Lady Vol program, and we will work as hard as we possibly can with the goal of hanging more banners in Thompson-Boling Arena."

Warlick originally joined the Tennessee athletics program as a scholarship 400-meter track athlete and a walk-on to the basketball team. A three-time All-American as a point guard at Tennessee, Warlick led Tennessee to three AIAW Final Fours as a player (1977, 1979, 1980) and held numerous school records upon the completion of her playing career in 1980, including most assists in a season and a game, most steals in a game, and most games in career. Warlick was the first Tennessee athlete, male or female, to have her jersey retired at the end of her career in 1980.

Warlick was inducted the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and in October 2002, she was a member of the second induction class of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame. She also served two seasons each as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1981-83) and Nebraska (1983-85).

Under Summitt's leadership, Tennessee is the only school to appear in all 32 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournaments since its inception in 1982, Tennessee has posted more NCAA Tournament victories (112) and has played in more tournament games (135) than any other college basketball program. The Lady Vols have earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament 21 times, including nine consecutive from 1988-96.

Additionally, the Tennessee program has produced 12 Olympians, 21 State Farm All-Americans named to 36 different teams, including 2012 All-American Glory Johnson. Lady Vol players have also received All-SEC accolades on 120 occasions.

Summitt was the head coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball team that captured the gold medal in Los Angeles. On Oct. 13, 2000, she was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility and was inducted along with former NBA greats Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo, high school coach Morgan Wootten and contributors C.M. Newton and Danny Biasone.

Summitt added to a remarkable career of accomplishments and accolades during the 2011-12 season, when she was named Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year, an honor she shared with SI Sportsman of the Year Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke men's basketball head coach who has won more games all-time than any other coach in men's college basketball. The NCAA also named Summitt this year's recipient of the 2012 NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award, which is named after the 38th President of the United States and annually honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics over the course of their career.

A 1974 graduate of UT Martin with a degree in physical education, Summitt earned her master's degree in physical education from UT Knoxville in 1975. Her son, Tyler, was a member of the men's basketball team who graduates with a degree in communications studies from UT Knoxville this May.

The Pat Summitt File
Career Record: 1,098 wins and 208 losses
Born: June 14, 1951 in Clarksville, Tenn.
Children: Ross Tyler Summitt, born Sept. 21, 1990

Education:
B.S., Physical Education, UT Martin, 1974
M.S., Physical Education, UT Knoxville, 1975

Playing Career:
1970-74 UT Martin
1973 U.S. World University Games Team
1975 Pan American Games Team
1975 World Championship Team
1976 U.S. Olympic Team (co-captain)

Coaching Career:
1974-2012, University of Tennessee Head Coach
1977 U.S. Junior National Team
1979 Pan American Games Team
1979, 1983 World Championships Team
1980 U.S. Olympic Basketball Assistant
1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Head Coach

Three Williamson County students were among the 30 high school seniors from Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina recently who interviewed to be part of the 2012-2013 class of Haslam Scholars, the premier scholarship program offered by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The thirty finalists were selected from hundreds of applicants based on their academic achievement, leadership potential, preliminary interview, special talents, maturity, and seriousness of purpose. All of the finalists are eligible for the Chancellor’s Honors Program, but only 15 will be invited to be a part of next year’s freshman class of Haslam Scholars.

Haslam Scholars are part of an intimate academic and leadership group mentored by top faculty. Each receives a scholarship valued at about $17,300 to cover the estimated cost of in-state tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, and books. Out-of-state Haslam Scholars receive a waiver so they pay in-state tuition.

Williamson County students (highlighted below) who interviewed were Craig Jones of Franklin, Sarah Hagaman of Franklin and Kevin Okseniut of Ravenwood

In addition, each Haslam Scholar receives a $1,500 laptop computer and an all-expense paid study-abroad experience valued at $4,000. Each scholar is also given $5,500 to support the honors thesis research and travel to present their work.

The Haslam Scholars Program was created four years ago. Jimmy and Dee Haslam donated $2.5 million to launch the program. An additional $2.5 million was donated by Jim and Natalie Haslam.

Here’s a look at the 30 finalists:

• Summer Awad, a senior at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, studied Latin, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese and plans to major in comparative religion.
• Chris Barnes, a senior at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, attended the Governor’s School for the Sciences and Engineering.
• Benjamin Brock, a senior at Jefferson County High School in Jefferson City, Tennessee, is a member of the German National Honor Society.
• LaKenzie Crawford, a senior at Jefferson County High School in Jefferson City, Tennessee, is a volunteer at Jefferson City Health and Rehab and an active member of 4-H.
• Franco D’Aprile, a senior at Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee, aspires to an international career.
• Sharvari Desai, a senior at White Station High School in Germantown, Tennessee, is active in dance, student council and Model United Nations.
• Amelia Dmowska, a senior at Farragut High School in Knoxville, plays the violin for the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra.
• Ben Foust, a senior at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is currently the Math Club president and a member of the International Relations Club.
• Keshane Gan, a senior at White Station High School in Germantown, Tennessee, attended the Governor’s School for Engineering in 2011.
• Sarah Hagaman, a senior at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, is the founder of the National Honors Society at her school.
• Macy Harrison, a senior at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas, plans to major in sociology or social work.
• Emma Hyche, a senior at Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, plans to become a fashion journalist or a lawyer.
• Craig Jones, a senior at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, is currently the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and the student body vice president.
• Honor Lundt, a senior a Bearden High School in Knoxville, plans an interdisciplinary major in linguistics.
• Kelley Guinn McArtor, a senior at Hutchison School in Memphis, is currently on the lacrosse team and senior class president.
• Sarah McFann, a senior at Arlington High School in Arlington, Tennessee, is a ballet dancer and an artist.
• Andrew Messing, a senior at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, competes in robotics competitions at the state and regional level.
• Ben Miller, a senior at Middle Creek High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a prospective member of the UT Vols Swimming and Diving Team.
• Grayson Mynatt, a senior at Christian Academy of Knoxville, plays the violin at Hillcrest Nursing Home.
• Kevin Okseniuk, a senior at Ravenwood High School in Nolensville, Tennessee, won a Gold Medal at the 2011 National Spanish Exam.
• Emily Peel, a senior at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, attended Girls Nation in 2011.
• Amanda Rehorn, a senior at Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, completed an internship at Vanderbilt University Eye Institute.
• Andrea Richardson, a senior at White Station High School in Memphis, attended the 2010 and 2011 Carnegie Mellon University Summer Academy for Math and Science.
• Katie Lou Rogers, a senior at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee, plans to major in biomedical engineering.
• Sahba Seddighi, a senior at Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, is currently interning at UT researching virology and immunology.
• Elizabeth Stanfield, a senior at South Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee, has worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years.
• Tor Voorhees, a senior at Bearden High School in Knoxville, has served as a research intern in the UT Department of Animal Science.
• Cole Wood, a senior at McCallie School in Chattanooga, studied abroad in France and also attended the Governor’s School for International Studies.
• Marcia Wright, a senior at White Station High School in Memphis, is a member of the Memphis City Schools Student Advisory Board and NAACP Youth Council.
• Yidan Zeng, a senior at White Station High School in Memphis, has been recognized for her achievements in art by the Congressional Art Competition.

For more information about the Haslam Scholars Program, visit haslamscholars.utk.edu/.

Four out of ten drivers feel less safe on the road than they did five years ago. That’s according to a recent highway safety survey of Tennesseans conducted by the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) and the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) at the University of Tennessee.

The biggest fear factor: distracted drivers. Texting and emailing while driving was considered to be equally as threatening by Tennesseans as drinking while driving. Nine out of ten respondents cited the behavior as a threat to their personal safety.

“It is telling that Tennesseans now find texting and e-mailing while driving a threat equal in severity to drinking and driving,” said Jerry Everett, CTR research director.

While drivers may find this behavior unsafe, it does not stop them from doing it. The survey found one out of five drivers engaged in this behavior in the past thirty days. This research showed inconsistencies between attitudes and behaviors were common among the respondents.

Other key findings include:

Seventy percent said it was unacceptable to drive fifteen mph over the speed limit on a freeway, yet 40 percent said they had in the past thirty days. Ninety-four percent of drivers say driving drowsy is unacceptable, yet nearly a quarter of the respondents had done it in the past thirty days. Only four out of 100 people say they had driven after drinking too much in the past year. Eighty-two percent support a health screening and “behind-the-wheel” driving test for license renewal for drivers over the age of seventy-five. More than 90 percent support requiring new drivers to take a training program on how to operate a vehicle and a classroom-based driver education course. Seventy-five percent of drivers always drive with a seatbelt. Four out of ten Tennesseans cited automobile crashes as the main cause of death when in fact it is sixth leading cause of death.

“While deaths due to automobile crashes are down in Tennessee, the more than 900 lives that were lost on Tennessee roads in 2011 and the roughly 45,000 injuries from crashes are still too high,” said Everett. “Further reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on Tennessee highways will likely require a culture shift with regard to safety that leads to changes in driver behavior.”

Everett notes that while almost all respondents consider drinking and driving unacceptable, driving while texting or while drowsy are still considered risks worth taking.

This survey of more than 900 Tennessee residents this past year was designed to assess the safety culture and driving habits of Tennesseans. It was modeled after the annual Traffic Safety Culture Index conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The full report is posted on http://ctr.utk.edu/. The AAA Safety Culture survey can be found at http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=research.

A Middle Tennessee vineyard beat out wineries from fourteen states and won the Best of Show title at the recent Wines of the South competition, hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Arrington Vineyards took the main prize with its 2008 KB 308 Cabernet Sauvignon during the competition September 30 and October 1.

Fifty-three wineries entered the annual contest and submitted 383 wines.

Arrington’s wine and those of the other six competition category winners will be featured at the Tennessee Food and Wine Festival on October 21 and October 22 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

They will be part of the Wines of the South Tasting event from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21, and 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22.

The festival will feature 100 exhibit booths filled with vendors selling and sampling Tennessee food and wine products. Two stages will provide guests with practical and gourmet food preparation tips.

Guests will include celebrity chef Darren McGrady, who was the personal chef to Princess Diana, Peter Glander, who is the executive chef for Ruby Tuesday, Chef Chris Moore from the Knoxville Convention Center, Chef Greg Eisele from Aramark, and Chef Nowading and Chef Mullins with Kroger.

A variety of classes will be held during the festival. The main expo will be Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wines of the South category winners include:

• Best of Red: Barrel Oak 2009 Bowhaus Red, Virginia
• Best of White: Narmada 2010 Mom (Chardonnel), Virginia
• Best of Blush: Narmada 2010 Gulabi (Chambourcin), Virginia
• Best of Dessert/Fruit: Georgia Winery 2010 Blackberry, Georgia
• Best of Sparklers: Stonehaus 2010 Tickled Pink (Steuben), Tennessee
• Best of TN Fruit – William O. Beach Award: Century Farm Winery 2009 Traminette, Tennessee

For more information on the Wines of the South competition, visit www.winesofthesouth.com.

For discounted advance tickets to the Tennessee Food and Wine Festival, register at www.tnfestival.com.

KNOXVILLE— Tennesseans are in for the long haul and likely won’t see significant improvements in the state’s economy until 2013.

Many aspects of the economy, however, are showing some gains in the short-term, which is good news particularly in the areas of employment, personal income, sales tax, and state tax revenue, according to a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, report released today.

However, the housing market will continue to struggle, according to the fall 2011 Tennessee Business and Economic Outlook. The economy could also face a number of downside risks in the months ahead, including the looming financial crisis in Europe.

The study, prepared by the UT Center for Business and Economic Research, predicts the trajectory of the state and national economies by examining several economic and fiscal factors.

“Economic growth has slowed but has not stalled,” wrote Matt Murray, CBER associate director and author of the study. “A slight pickup in growth is anticipated in the third and fourth quarters, but annualized growth will come in at a disappointing rate for the year as a whole. The outlook for 2012 is only slightly better.”

Tennessee’s short-term economic outlook has been downgraded because of slower growth prospects nationally and internationally.

Here are some major themes in the fall report:

Tennessee’s unemployment rate will surpass the national rate in the short-term.

It will average 9.8 percent in the third quarter and 9.7 percent in the fourth. The 2012 projection is 9.4 percent. It’s not expected to dip below 9 percent until 2013.

The nation’s unemployment rate was officially 9.1 percent in August, which was an improvement over the 9.6 percent rate in 2010.

The national unemployment rate will also remain above 9 percent this year and next year.

Tennessee’s nonfarm employment is expected to be up 0.8 percent this year and 1.0 percent in 2012, down slightly from expectations in the spring.

Manufacturing will enjoy short-term employment gains particularly in the durable goods sector. This is largely due to steady improvement in the transportation equipment industry, including new jobs created by Volkswagen. However, manufacturing will not regain all of the jobs lost during the course of the recent recession.

Nondurable goods will decline 0.2 percent this year. The textiles and printing industries will see “especially large losses,” Murray wrote. Plastics and rubber, on the other hand, will enjoy healthy growth benefiting in part from the pickup in transportation equipment production.

Most sectors of the economy outside of manufacturing are expected to see job gains in the quarters ahead. Exceptions for 2011 include retail trade, information, and government, including federal, state, and local employment.

In 2012, retail trade and the government areas will likely continue to lose jobs while other sectors expand.

Nationally, “employment is not only below pre-recession levels but below the level of employment that prevailed in 2000,” Murray wrote.

U.S. payroll employment is expected to grow 0.9 percent this year and 1 percent in 2012. However, employment will not return to 2008 levels even by the end of 2013.

Tennessee’s sales tax revenues for the July 2010 through March 2011 time period fared better than the southeastern average.

Total tax revenues grew 6.3 percent compared to 2010, and sales tax revenues grew by 4.6 percent. While both numbers were above the southeastern average, they were below the national average.

The second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 showed positive growth for Tennessee. The total growth was 3.3 percent over 2010, and sales tax growth was up 5 percent. Tennessee’s sales tax grew more than the southeastern average in the second quarter of 2011 over 2010.

This is the second consecutive August with positive sales tax revenue growth which moves collections to just $9.5 million below August 2007.

State governments are finally seeing some relief from the recession. Recovery, in terms of tax revenue growth, is “quite strong,” Murray wrote.

Year-over-year growth in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2010 was the strongest states have seen since 2005. It was 11.4 percent. The first and second quarters of 2011 show continued state tax revenue growth throughout the nation. Though revenues have been positive for six consecutive quarters, collection levels are still below pre-recession figures, including Tennessee.

Local governments are not as lucky.

Due to weak property tax revenues, which account for more than a quarter of local tax collections, state and local collections have seen losses for two consecutive quarters nationwide. Compared to the same quarter in the previous year, property taxes fell by 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011 and 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, reflecting the declines in property values during the past two years.

“Unfortunately, the worst is not likely over for local governments,” Murray wrote.

Tennesseans will have a bit more money this year.

Personal income is expected to grow 4.6 percent in 2011, thanks in part to the temporary two percentage point reduction in the Social Security payroll tax.

Rent, interest, and dividend income should see strong growth of 5 percent.

A 4.3 percent income growth rate is expected in 2012, one more illustration of slow economic expansion.

Nationally, nominal personal income is expected to increase 5.3 percent in 2011, but it will not be evenly distributed across all socio-demographic groups.

Home values in Tennessee and the nation are expected to keep falling through 2011. Existing home sales will remain low and national home prices will drop 5.2 percent for the year, the report states.

“Foreclosures are expected to be up in 2011 after a respite in 2010,” Murray wrote. “The depressed state of the housing market will limit job creation in the construction, building material, and home furnishing sectors, while putting downward pressure on the sales and property tax bases of states and localities.”

Murray called nonresidential fixed investment “an important bright spot” for the national economy.

Following 4.4 percent growth in 2010, investment spending is expected to rise 7.8 percent this year and 4.3 percent next year. Equipment and software investment will show broad-based gains. Investment in structures, however, will see only 3.2 percent growth in 2011 and a 3.5 percent setback in 2012.

“This weak performance for structures is nonetheless marked improvement over the double-digit declines in 2009 and 2010,” Murray said.

To see the report in its entirety, visit http://cber.bus.utk.edu/tefs/fall11.pdf.

The report was financed by the state Department of Finance and Administration, the state Department of Economic and Community Development, the state Department of Revenue, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

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KNOXVILLE—Tennessee has now made its first contribution to a national electronic database of historical newspapers, thanks to a federal grant.

The Tennessee Digital Newspaper Project (TDNP) is a joint effort between the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), to digitize more than 100,000 pages of Tennessee’s microfilmed newspapers dating from 1836 to 1922. The NEH has funded similar projects in other states as it builds the national database.

A panel of historians, scholars, librarians, and genealogists has selected a range of newspaper titles from across Tennessee for inclusion in the project. The initial phase of the project focuses on the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

Issues of the Memphis Daily Appeal from 1857 to 1872 were scanned and added to the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America website. To view the paper, visit http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Access is free to the public.

Pages from the newspaper include:

• Frontline dispatches from Civil War correspondents such as “SHADOW” and “DIXIE;”
• News reports from the cotton industry, railroads, and riverboats; and
• Advertisements for farm equipment, clothing, guns, real estate, or cure-all medicines such as “Braggs Arctic Liniment” and “Dr. Mott’s Chalybeate Pills.”

Additional historical Tennessee newspapers scheduled to be digitized include Brownlow’s Knoxville Whig, the Nashville Union and American, the Chattanooga Daily Rebel, the Athens Post, and the Clarksville Weekly Chronicle.

TSLA collects and preserves books and records of historical, documentary, and reference value and promotes library and archival development throughout the state. The NEH is an independent federal agency which supports learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities.

University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton has resigned, it was announce this morning at a press conference will be held at Stokely Family Media Center in Neyland Stadium.

Hamilton announced his resignation effective June 30, 2011. Hamilton has served as athletic director for eight years, and he has worked in the athletics department for 19 years.

“My family and I love the University of Tennessee, and we love Knoxville. We have poured out our lives over the last 19 years to try to make this a better community, a better athletic program and a better university,” Hamilton said. “We will forever cherish our time here and be eternally grateful to Doug Dickey for taking a chance on a young, 28-year-old in 1992. Serving as athletic director over the last eight years has been an incredible daily leadership lesson and a dream come true that I would never trade for anything. I appreciate everyone who has walked along that path with me. We have, without a doubt, the best staff, coaches, student-athletes, and fans in America.”

In accepting Hamilton’s resignation, Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek praised his dedication and his service to UT.

“The University of Tennessee’s athletic programs have experienced great success under Mike Hamilton’s leadership. Mike has led our teams to success on and off the field.

“Mike is a man of high integrity and deep faith. His contributions to our campus and its faculty, staff, and students will live on for many decades, especially his positive influence on our student-athletes,” Cheek said. “We will miss him.”

Cheek added that Hamilton also was committed to giving back to academics on the campus; UT’s athletics department is one of only fourteen that is self-sustaining, and it gives $10 million a year back to the campus.

The University of Tennessee’s men’s basketball team made it to the Elite Eight in 2010 and, in 2008, won the SEC Championship. The men’s tennis team played for a national championship, and there are many other wins too numerous to list.

Fundraising has more than doubled during Hamilton’s tenure as athletic director, and he has helped transform the campus through capital projects. The Neyland Stadium Master Plan is 60-percent complete, and the renovated stadium is a tribute to his hard work.

“Mike Hamilton is an outstanding individual with many exceptional accomplishments for the University of Tennessee,” UT President Joe DiPietro said. “I respect and support his decision and express my appreciation for the character, integrity, loyalty, and good work that mark his 19-year career at Tennessee.”

In addition to his accomplishments on campus, Hamilton has been involved in the community, including his service as chairman of the Knoxville Chamber Partnership and chair of the 2010 United Way campaign. He has also worked tirelessly, alongside his wife, Beth, to raise money and support for children’s issues, clean water in Africa, and help for those less fortunate.

A separation agreement between Hamilton and the university has been signed, and he will receive $1,335,000 over the next thirty-six months.

A national search for a new athletic director will begin immediately, and a search firm will be engaged to assist with the process.

“We hope to have someone in place before the football season begins,” Cheek said. “However, it is important to get the right person, and we will not rush the search to meet this timeline.”

An interim athletic director will be named before the end of the week. Hamilton will remain a part of the group representing the University of Tennessee at the school’s appearance before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis on June 11.

KNOXVILLE — While many aspects of the Tennessee and national economy are on the upward trajectory, others are lagging—creating a perfect recipe for modest growth.

The forecast in the spring 2011 Tennessee Business and Economic Outlook, a report prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, shows that most aspects of the state and national economies are rebounding but will not reach pre-recession levels until 2013 or 2014.

“While oil prices are easing, employment is gaining, exports are growing, automobile sales are rebounding, and business investments in equipment and software remain healthy—housing, business structures, and government spending are putting a downward pressure on national economic growth,” explained Matt Murray, CBER associate director and author of the study.

In Tennessee, the unemployment rate will see a slight dip, and most job sectors will see growth, along with personal income and sales tax revenue, but the housing market will continue to be stuck at the bottom.

This year, the world has watched petroleum prices fluctuate, leading to higher prices at the pump. Murray predicts prices will remain high due to simple supply and demand and that factor will continue to eat into household disposable income and consumer spending.

However, Murray also predicts another closely watched item—core inflation—will be stable and lie within the Federal Reserve’s comfort range into 2013. This means consumers’ spending power will remain largely intact. Core inflation excludes food and energy prices, which are expected to remain volatile.

Here are some of the major themes in the spring report:

Employment

Tennessee’s unemployment rate will fall from 9.7 percent in 2010 to 9.4 percent this year. A further drop to 8.7 percent is expected for 2012. The national unemployment rate was 9.6 in 2010 and will drop to 8.8 in 2011. The nation’s lower unemployment rate can primarily be attributed to a decline in the number of unemployed workers and a shrinking labor force.

Luckily, the state labor market is finally showing some growth for which people can find job opportunities.

“This is good news compared to the 0.3 percent setback in 2010 and the 5.6 percent collapse in 2009,” Murray wrote. “The anticipated job growth for 2011 and 2012 is encouraging news for the state economy.”

Durable goods employment—particularly in areas of primary and fabricated metals, transportation equipment, and machinery—expanded and will continue to do so. Nonfarm employment will expand by 1.1 percent this year and 1.3 percent next year.

“Natural resources, mining, and construction will enjoy strong growth this year, reflecting an initial rebound from the deep depths of the recession,” wrote Murray. “Education and health services, which were largely immune to the recession, will also experience strong growth.”

Jobs that won’t see growth include Tennessee’s government jobs at all levels. Federal employment will contract due to the end of the census, as will employment at the state and local levels due to tepid revenue growth. Nondurable goods employment will contract and continue to struggle. Jobs in computers and electronic equipment, along with printing, will also witness sharp losses this year.

Growth in the state’s manufacturing sector will be flat this year, which is an improvement over 2010, which saw a 2.5 percent setback, and a 14.2 percent decimation in 2009. The industry is being helped by the resurgence of automobile sales and Volkswagen’s new operation in Chattanooga.

State tax revenues

The recession placed ongoing strains on federal, state, and local government budgets across the nation because of dismal tax revenues with the sales tax being particularly hit the hardest.

“This poor performance reflects massive job and income losses, as well as reduced construction within the business and residential sectors,” wrote Murray.

However, states are finally beginning to see some growth in the sales tax arena. Tennessee has seen growth for thirteen consecutive months. In the first quarter of 2011, the state saw a growth rate of 5.6 percent, which is in line with the national average. While the recent gains are an improvement over previous quarters’ growth rates, they are not at the level of peak years.

Taxable sales will advance 4.8 percent in calendar year 2011, with automobile sales and manufacturing purchases as major drivers of this growth. Fiscal year 2011-12 will bring forth slightly stronger sales tax revenue growth of 4.7 percent (compared to 4 percent in the current fiscal year) with most broad categories of taxable sales showing improvement.

Housing market

Tennessee’s housing market hit rock bottom in late 2008 and early 2009, and there is not yet an indication as to when it will climb out of the hole. For example, foreclosures moved down in the third quarter of 2010, only to jump back up the following two quarters.

“The glut of homes on the market, along with the queue of homes in the foreclosure pipeline, will continue to slow the housing market rebound,” said Murray. “There has yet to be signs of a sustained turnaround.”

Furthermore, there has been little if any sustained increase in permitting activity in Tennessee, indicating weak housing starts. In contrast, national housing starts will be up this year—despite existing home sales being “nothing less than miserable.”

Personal income

Tennesseans will continue to take home more money.

Nominal personal income—the sum of wage and salary disbursements, proprietors’ income, personal dividend income, personal interest income, and transfer payments to persons—in Tennessee will increase 4 percent in 2011 and 4.4 percent in 2012.

However, rent, interest, and dividend income will show improvement over 2010 but will nonetheless prove to be a drag on overall personal income growth. Rental income may do well as people move to rentals as opposed to buying homes. However, low interest rates will continue to depress interest income.

To see the report in its entirety, visit http://cber.bus.utk.edu.

The report was financed by the state Department of Finance and Administration, the state Department of Economic and Community Development, the state Department of Revenue, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

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The University of Tennessee announced Sunday the hiring of Missouri State University head coach Cuonzo Martin (pronounced CON-zoe) as the Vols' 18th head men's basketball coach. He will be introduced at a press conference tomorrow (Monday, March 28) at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Ray Mears Room at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The 39-year-old Martin, who is a graduate of Purdue University, posted a 61-41 (.598) record in three seasons at Missouri State from 2008-11. This season's Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Martin's 2010-11 Bears team finished 26-9 and won the school's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship. The team's 15-3 mark in MVC games set a school-record for conference wins in one season.

"Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness, and energy that he brings to our program," Tennessee Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton said. "He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player. His Missouri State program improved from 11 wins to 26 in just two seasons, and they won the regular season conference championship this year."

"Cuonzo has an inspiring personal story, and we look forward to his impact on Tennessee basketball. We welcome Cuonzo, his wife Roberta, their sons Joshua and Chase, and their daughter, Addison, to the Tennessee family."

Martin is also a finalist for two national coaching awards this season: the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, presented annually to the top mid-major coach in Division I college basketball, and the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the top minority head coach in Division I. Both awards are to be presented during Final Four weekend.

On March 26, 2008, Martin was introduced as the Missouri State head coach after spending eight years as an assistant coach at his alma mater under head coaches Gene Keady and Matt Painter. After finishing 11-20 in his first season with the Bears in 2008-09, the team improved 13 wins to a 24-12 finish and the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament title in 2009-10, tying Kansas for the national lead in home wins with 19.

Martin's Missouri State teams were a combined 36-3 at home over the last two seasons, and the three home losses were by a combined total of five points.

A two-win improvement this season (26-9) means Martin's last two Missouri State squads have averaged 25 wins, posting a combined record of 50-21 and a .704 winning percentage. In addition, after a 3-15 finish in the MVC in 2008-09, the Bears improved to 8-10 in 2009-10 and 15-3 in the league in 2010-11.

Through all NCAA games of March 25, the 2010-11 Missouri State squad ranked seventh nationally in turnovers per game at 10.3 and also led the MVC in 3-point shooting (.376, 39th nationally) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28, 27th nationally) while ranking second in winning pct. (.745, 30th nationally), scoring offense (69.8 ppg, 140th nationally), and scoring margin (6.7, 60th nationally). Missouri State played in the MVC Tournament as the No. 1 seed and fell to Indiana State in the MVC Tournament Championship Game. The Bears played in the NIT this year, defeating Murray State in the first round before losing in the second round at Miami (Fla.).

The 2009-10 MSU team led the MVC in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio and ranked in the top 25 nationally in turnovers per game (11.3).

Martin was a standout player for the Boilermakers as a collegian, scoring 1,666 points in 127 career games. During his four playing seasons, Purdue posted a 90-37 record, including a combined 54-12 mark in his last two seasons and two Big 10 titles in 1994 and 1995. He made 45.9 percent of his 3-point attempts (179-for-390) over his junior and senior seasons and was an 80 percent free-throw shooter.

During his senior season of 1994-95, he averaged 18.4 points per game while leading Purdue to the second of three consecutive Big 10 championships, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors. Broadcaster Dick Vitale also named him to his All-Defensive Team in 1995.

Martin set the Purdue school record for 3-pointers made in a single game, draining eight in an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen contest against Kansas on March 24, 1994, a game hosted at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Boilermakers won that game to advance to the Elite Eight. Martin's record still stands and was subsequently equaled by Robbie Hummel against Ohio State on Jan. 12, 2010.

Martin was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks and played professional basketball for four years, including NBA stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Vancouver Grizzlies. He also was the team captain and leading scorer with the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Hoops of the Continental Basketball Association for three seasons and was the leading scorer for the Felize Scandone team in Avellino, Italy in 1997.

In November of 1997, Martin was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and returned to the United States for treatment of a malignant tumor between his heart and lungs. He received his last treatment on April 20, 1998, and is now in full remission. He has used his courage and experience with the disease to promote awareness of cancer research and support cancer charities.

In 2008, Martin served as a spokesman for the inaugural Purdue Center for Cancer Research Challenge for cancer research, which attracted more than 1,000 runners and walkers to Ross-Ade Stadium and raised more than $30,000 for cancer research at Purdue. In his honor, the Cuonzo Martin Challenge Award was established.

Cuonzo LaMar Martin was born Sept. 23, 1971, in East St. Louis, Ill. He and his wife, Roberta, have two sons, Joshua and Chase, and a daughter, Addison.