Four years ago, the University of Tennessee athletic department was struggling. The football program had been in a decade and a half long down period. Fundraising had been flat due to the lack of overall success. All of that changed when the school hired Danny White as their next athletic director.
In the four years since White was hired, Tennessee has won three consecutive SEC All-Sports titles. Across all Division 1 schools, the athletic department finished number three in the Learfield Director’s Cup in 2024. Their trajectory has them pointed straight up, and Danny White is a major reason for it.
Tennessee Makes Danny White a Top Paid Ad
On Thursday, it was announced Danny White and Tennessee had agreed to a six year contract extension worth $2.75 million annually. The bump from $2.2 million makes White one of the highest paid athletic directors in the country.
White’s success at Tennessee will forever be tied to Josh Heupel’s success with the football program. Heupel was White’s first head coaching hire on Rocky Top after coming over from Central Florida. Heupel, who also came from Central Florida, has the Vols on the right track after years of inconsistent seasons.
Tennessee’s Consistent Success Under Danny White
Since Danny White took over, Tennessee has won 12 total SEC titles. Baseball has won four conference titles, softball has won two, and men’s basketball has accounted for two. In the four years before White arrived in Knoxville, the school had only won two conference championships.
It’s not just about the revenue sports either. Men’s tennis has advanced to the Sweet 16 in four consecutive years, while women’s tennis advanced to the Final Four in 2024. Men’s golf finished 10th in the country in 2024 and women’s volleyball made the Sweet 16. The athletic department finally broke through with the baseball team’s 2024 national championship.
Final Thoughts
The decision to extend Danny White is a no-brainer. The success of the school’s athletics has been directly liked to White and his administration. His ability to get the most out of his coaches and his fundraising chops have boosted Tennessee into the national spotlight. Prior to White, the Vols were in a dysfunctional spiral. Now, they are among the nation’s elite.
As the 2024 academic year begins, the Vols are again expecting big years across all sports. The football program, men’s golf team, men’s and women’s tennis, volleyball, baseball, and softball should all be national contenders again.
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