Chris Spognardi, who had been on paid leave, fired by Tennessee

Tennessee fired director of football operations Chris Spognardi, who had been on paid administrative leave, for what it called "gross misconduct."

UT placed Spognardi on paid administrative leave on Aug. 9. A source told the News Sentinel in August that Spognardi was relieved of his duties after a financial audit found irregularities related to his job.

In a letter obtained Tuesday by the News Sentinel that was dated Dec. 12, 2016, athletic director Dave Hart informed Spognardi that he was "being terminated" and the "decision is based on information learned by the University's Office of Audit and Compliance."

The letter, signed by Hart, does not include any other details about the audit.

UT declined to release correspondence related to Spognardi's case in August citing an “ongoing audit.”

Spognardi was informed in the letter he can appeal the termination through a hearing or administrative review.

Spognardi's responsibilities included day-to-day operations of off-field football matters, such as travel. His salary was $80,800.

"Chris is one of the top football operations guys in the country," Spognardi's lawyer Jeff Hagood said in an email to the News Sentinel on Tuesday night. "It is beyond bothersome to me that our business office at the University would have in place such an archaic system of 'cash only payments' on these out of town and bowl trips that practically guarantee problems for everybody.  Better judgment should have been displayed here."

Spognardi’s personnel file did not include performance reviews or comments of any kind.

He came to UT in 2013 as assistant to coach Butch Jones and was promoted to director of football operations in 2014. Spognardi had been on staff with Jones at both Cincinnati and Central Michigan.

Rachel Ohm contributed to this report.