Tennessee men’s AD Mike Hamilton’s resignation press conference was a brief affair, heavy on Biblical imagery and book report-quality remembrances and light on actual information. What few facts were gleaned from the Q & A session, in between Hamilton waxing awkwardly poetic, are collected below:
Mike Hamilton Press Conference: ‘I Have Become A Lightning Rod For Negative Attention’
• Hamilton will serve as AD through June 30, and still intends to attend Saturday’s hearing with the Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis, where Tennessee will defend itself against charges of NCAA violations during the football and basketball reigns of Lane Kiffin and Bruce Pearl.
• Hamilton said he’s been considering this decision for several months, and will take time off to enjoy the company of his family, but believes he’ll be an AD again.
• Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said that while Hamilton was not forced out, he did not attempt to dissuade Hamilton from resigning.
• Hamilton said that while serving as UT’s AD has been “an incredible daily leadership lesson and a dream come true,” he had “become a lightning rod for negative attention.”
• A search committee of faculty members and other UT figures will be formed, and a search firm will be hired to conduct a national sweep for Tennessee’s next AD. The university hopes to have a new candidate in place by football season. Cheek will have the ultimate decision over the hiring.
• Hamilton said he didn’t want to give the appearance that his resignation had anything to do with Saturday’s date with the NCAA. Which, presumably, is why he resigned four days before Saturday’s date with the NCAA. Whatever. As Rocky Top Talk notes, “The timing here screams that something’s hitting somewhere, and it’s not minor.”
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