Tennessee athletic director John Currie debuts 'Hey John' letter

In an attempt to be more transparent and responsive, new Tennessee athletic director John Currie will be directly addressing fans with letters.

Currie told the USA TODAY Network-Tennessee sports group on Wednesday that he planned to regularly write letters to keep the Vols’ fan base updated with news about the athletic department and its programs.

Addressed to “Big Orange Nation,” the “Hey John!” letters will be posted at UTSports.com/heyjohn and tweeted from @John_Currie.

Currie released his first letter Thursday detailing his first official week on the job. It started last Saturday “with a cup of coffee and great chat in the Anderson Training Center with Coach Butch Jones.”

Currie met the parents of football players during Family Day at Neyland Stadium and attended baseball and softball games.

Currie encountered two “surprise visitors” last week when former UT coach Johnny Majors and former UT and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten came to campus.

“One of the first congratulatory texts I received when I was announced as your new athletics director on Feb. 28 was from Jason,” Currie wrote.

Currie said he’s often been asked about his “first order of business” at UT.

“Well, it’s pretty simple. I’m doing a lot of listening,” he wrote. “I’m listening to our student-athletes, our coaches, staff and the people that support this program.”

Currie is encouraging UT fans to send him emails with “thoughts, suggestions and questions about our athletic program” on the “Hey John!” page.