Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has expressed interest in getting back into football recently. He’ll get his wish at East Tennessee State.
The university announced on Tuesday that Fulmer would serve as a special assistant to the athletic director for football -- I swear that’s his real title and not one of my corny “Office” references -- as the school restarts a program that was disbanded in 2003.
“When you have a chance to use the knowledge and skill of a Hall of Fame coach who has won a national championship and is revered as one of the truly great coaches in college football, you have to jump on that opportunity,” AD Richard Sander said during a press conference. “Phil Fulmer will make a huge contribution to the success of ETSU football.”
Fulmer has been out of coaching since being released by Tennessee in 2008. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this past year after posting a 152-52 record with the Vols over his career, which included a national championship.
“It is very exciting to be asked to work with Dr. Noland and Dr. Sander to help them any way I can to launch college football again at ETSU,” Fulmer said. “I am extremely impressed with Dr. Noland’s passion to build upon and enhance the culture of excellence at ETSU. Dr. Noland and Dr. Sander both believe and understand that sports, and in this case football, is important to both the students and the alumni of a university. It can help them enjoy and enhance the college experience, as well as stay connected for years to come.”
Fulmer’s shown interest in previous openings at Arkansas and Kansas, but was ultimately passed over.