UT Vols: With John Currie out as AD, get to know Reid Sigmon, who could become a more prominent face

In light of Friday's reports that Tennessee athletic director John Currie has been fired, Reid Sigmon would be a logical candidate to become a more prominent face for the Vols' athletic department during this period of transition.

Currie hired Sigmon as his executive associate athletics director and chief operating officer.

Here are five things to know about Sigmon.

He's plugged into the college football world

Before coming to Tennessee, Sigmon worked as the College Football Playoff's chief financial officer for four years.

"His business acumen, coupled with his vast experience in event- and stadium-management, gives him the perfect background to achieve our vision," CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said in a statement announcing Sigmon's hiring in 2013. "Reid is widely respected because of his personality, work ethic and attention to detail

He has ties to Currie

Sigmon and Currie worked together before he came aboard Currie's cabinet at Tennessee. Sigmon worked at Kansas State from 2009-13 -- Currie was the AD there at that time -- and rose to the position of senior associate athletic director and COO.

He's worked in the NFL ranks, too

Sigmon had high-ranking positions for three different Super Bowls, and he was also the Cleveland Browns' director of stadium development and event operations from 2005-07.

He must know a thing or two about politics

Sigmon graduated from Wake Forest – that's Currie's alma mater, too – with magna cum laude honors in 1996 with a degree in politics.

Oh – and Tennessee fans might wrinkle their noses at this – he received his MBA from Florida.

He's a fresh perspective

While some Vol fans will be in favor of a "true son" being the face of the athletic department during this rocky time of transition, Sigmon would offer a fresh perspective.

He'd never worked at Tennessee before this year.