Timeline: Dave Hart's time at Tennessee

Dave Hart is retiring after five and a half years as athletic director at Tennessee. His last day is Friday. Here's a look at his time at UT.

Dave Hart timeline

Sept. 5, 2011: Hart, most recently the No. 2 man in Alabama’s athletic department, is introduced as Tennessee’s athletic director with a six-year contract.

Jan. 3, 2012: Hart fires longtime men’s swimming coach John Trembley for gross misconduct in mid-season.

Jan. 27, 2012: Hart's first coaching hire is Brian Pensky from Maryland to be UT’s soccer coach.

April 12, 2012: Hart names Matt Kredich, the women’s swimming and diving coach, as the first head coach of a combined men’s and women’s program.

April 19, 2012:Pat Summitt steps down as coach of women’s basketball due to a dementia diagnosis. Longtime assistant Holly Warlick is promoted to head coach.

Nov. 18, 2012: Derek Dooley is fired as football coach after losing to Vanderbilt. Dooley went 15-21 in three seasons that saw only 4 SEC wins. Jim Chaney serves as interim coach for the win over Kentucky.

Dec. 7, 2012:Butch Jones is introduced as football coach and signed to a six-year contract.

October 2013: UT learns the football program achieved sufficient improvement to avoid sanctions for its Academic Progress Report. Jones calls it “among the greatest victories in the history of Tennessee football.’’

April 22, 2014: Hart hires Donnie Tyndall as men’s basketball coach. Tyndall replaces Cuonzo Martin, who left for California after guiding the Vols to the Sweet 16.

June 24, 2014: Hart hires Beth Alford-Sullivan as director of a combined men’s and women’s track and cross country program. She replaces J.J. Clark, who was dismissed a month earlier.

Oct. 2, 2014: UT settles a lawsuit with plaintiff Debby Jennings for $320,000. Jennings alleged age and sex discrimination when she was terminated by Hart in 2012 as women’s basketball sports information director.

Nov. 10, 2014: Citing its new merchandising deal with Nike, UT announces it will end use of the Lady Vol logo and nickname for all women’s teams except basketball effective July 2015.

March 27, 2015: Hart fires Tyndall after one season due to NCAA allegations of misconduct during Tyndall’s previous tenure at Southern Mississippi. Tyndall went 16-16.

March 31, 2015:Rick Barnes is introduced as Tyndall’s successor. Barnes, who had a longstanding relationship with Hart, is available after being terminated at Texas days earlier.

Jan. 4, 2016: UT settles a gender discrimination lawsuit with three former employees for more than $1 million. The three worked in the women’s department and alleged they were paid less than their counterparts in the men’s department.

Feb. 1, 2016:A compromise is reached between UT and the Tennessee legislature. Women’s teams may wear a Lady Vols patch on their uniforms. In exchange, lawmakers will drop legislation to return the Lady Vols name.

July, 5, 2016: UT settles a Title IX lawsuit for $2.48 million. Eight women alleged they were victims of sexual assault by UT athletes and that the university created a hostile sexual environment for women.

Aug. 18, 2016: Hart announces his retirement, effective June 30, 2017, with the condition he would leave sooner if a successor is in place.

Nov. 21, 2016: Hart makes his final coaching hire. Alison Ojeda takes over women’s tennis from Mike Patrick, who retires.

Feb. 28, 2017:John Currie is hired as Hart’s replacement, effective April 1.

March 31, 2017: Hart's final day at Tennessee.