John Currie, who is set to collect more than $3 million for his eight-month run as Tennessee athletic director, led a narrow, mostly two-candidate search for the Vols’ next football coach last November before the process exploded into a national punchline.
Per documents released by the school as part of a Freedom of Information request, Currie had a clear path for his termination of Butch Jones before midnight after Tennessee’s November 11 blowout loss at Missouri. He digitally received the framework for the termination of Jones literally within minutes of the Vols’ loss.
Less than two weeks later, Currie was zeroed in on hiring either Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano or Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen.