Carl Maddox turned 65 in 1978. This triggered an anti-corruption rule on the books at the time, preventing the university from employing anyone over the age of 65, and mandating his retirement.
In Maddox’s last year before that impending deadline, he built a new tennis facility and an indoor sports complex in the Field House which now bears his name. He would also continue to add more women’s sports and overturn most of his coaching staffs. As we have seen, he didn’t quite take care of the Charles McClendon issue, leaving that as one of the first item of business for his eventual replacement.