Gov. won’t weigh in on coach

Posted: Monday, November 26, 2012 7:00 pm

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam says the University of Tennessee was right to fire football coach Derek Dooley, but declines to weigh in further.
Haslam told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/SkWYDH ) he likes Dooley and said the former coach brought a lot to the program, but said UT football is about results.
Dooley’s teams had a 15-21 record, 4-19 in Southeastern Conference play, and no wins against Top 25 opponents.
Haslam said he doesn’t have a recommendation on Dooley’s replacement and said how much the new coach gets paid shouldn’t be up to the governor.
Dooley’s firing was anounced one day after the Volunteers suffered a 41-18 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville. He chose not to coach in Tennessee’s season finale against Kentucky, saying his presence would be a distraction.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney was announced as the interim head coach and led the Vols to a 37-17 win.
———
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com

Published in The Messenger 11.26.12