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Wednesday, 11/30/05
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Fulmer getting no raise
UT coach agrees with AD's decision
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
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KNOXVILLE —Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer, who for the first time in his head coaching career won't receive a raise or contract extension, said yesterday that's the way it should be.
"I didn't expect a raise, and I didn't deserve one with the way things went this season," Fulmer said. "The only thing I asked for was to upgrade our staff, and I appreciate what our administration has done in helping us to do that."
The Vols are coming off their first losing season in 17 years, prompting Fulmer to overhaul his offensive staff. The biggest piece of that overhaul came Monday with the announcement that David Cutcliffe was returning as the offensive coordinator.
Cutcliffe received a two-year deal worth $300,000 annually, which is nearly $140,000 more than his predecessor, Randy Sanders, made last season.
Also, defensive coordinator John Chavis is expected to get a bump up to the $300,000 range after making $252,000 this year.
The Vols' next hire is expected to come from within. Greg Adkins, who's coached tight ends and also served as the recruiting coordinator, has emerged as the strong favorite to get the offensive line job.
Fulmer said when Cutcliffe was hired that Adkins was a candidate for the job. Adkins, who assisted Jimmy Ray Stephens on the offensive line the last three years, also worked with the offensive line at Georgia under Jim Donnan.
Stephens, as well as receivers coach Pat Washington, was not retained for next season. It's the first time in Fulmer's career that he's had to make wholesale changes to his staff.
"I don't think everything is broken," Fulmer said. "But certainly from an offensive standpoint, there needs to be more accountability and more responsiveness."
Fulmer wrote an open letter to fans that was e-mailed yesterday to approximately 38,000 season-ticket holders. He thanked them for their patience and promised improvements in the program.
Fulmer said he and Tennessee Athletics Director Mike Hamilton have already had some discussions and will meet more in detail soon.
"I've had great support from Mike and our administration and appreciate their loyalty, and I can assure you they know where my loyalty lies," said Fulmer, who's been at UT as a player, assistant coach and head coach for 31 years.
Fulmer's raise last year took him to $2.05 million annually. His contract runs through Dec. 31, 2011.
"I view raises and extensions as a reward for meeting and or exceeding expectations, and we didn't do that this year," Hamilton said. "Our commitment now is to support him from a resources standpoint to do what we have to do going forward."
Following the 2002 season, in which the Vols went 8-5 and were routed by Maryland in the Peach Bowl, Fulmer didn't receive a raise. He did, however, receive a one-year extension.
Fulmer is among the highest-paid coaches in the country. Only Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Texas' Mack Brown made more than him this season.
