Trading Crimson for Big Orange is new AD's 'Hart'

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee named Dave Hart as the school’s vice chancellor and director of athletics on Monday.
Hart, who was the director of athletics at Florida State University for 12 years (1995-2007), leaves his position as the executive director of athletics at Alabama to take over UT’s athletics department.
“I am very pleased to have Dave as our new vice chancellor and director of athletics,” Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek said. “He has extensive experience as an athletics director, and he has the passion and drive to lead our great athletics program.”
Comprehensive athletic success exemplified Hart’s tenure as the Florida State athletic director, as a combined 35 ACC Championships were won by 10 different Seminole athletic programs during his tenure.
The Seminole football team appeared in four national championship games, winning the 1999 BCS National Championship with a Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. The men’s outdoor track and field also claimed two national championships during that time, while the baseball program appeared in the College World Series five times and the softball program played in the 2002 Women’s College World Series.
Additionally, during Hart’s three years at Alabama, the Crimson Tide claimed the 2009 BCS National Championship and the individual athletic teams posted a combined eight top three finishes nationally over the last three years.
He has 20 years of service as a director of athletics, including eight at East Carolina (1987-95), an athletic program he joined in 1983 after coaching and teaching at the high school level following his graduation from Alabama.
“It is a privilege to be named vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Tennessee,” Hart said. “To be entrusted to lead one of the nation’s elite athletic programs is an exciting opportunity.
“I want to thank Chancellor Cheek, and all of those involved in this process for their confidence and commitment. I am anxious to demonstrate my passion for Tennessee and the Volunteer Nation.”
Highly respected as a visionary and industry leader, Hart’s career has featured service as the president of both the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Division 1A Athletics Directors’ Association. A former recipient of the Robert R. Neyland Award honoring lifetime achievement, Hart has also been named by his colleagues as the Athletic Director of the Year for the Southeast Region in both 2000 and 2005, one of a few select individual to receive the honor multiple times.

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