Athletic director denies Tennessee candidacy
Differing reports mark Hyman as one of finalists
By Braden Howell
Staff Reporter

Athletic Director Eric Hyman denied reports Wednesday evening that he is a candidate to replace University of Tennessee Athletic Director Doug Dickey, who is retiring in June.

“I had a brief conversation with a head-hunter six or seven weeks ago when I was in Memphis and my name was just floated out there, but that’s the last I’ve heard of it,” Hyman said. “I am not a candidate for the job.”

Sources from the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported Wednesday that Hyman is one of the top two or three candidates for the job if Tennessee’s school president John Shumaker chooses to go outside the university to fill the position. University of Tennessee Senior Associate Athletic Director Mike Hamilton and Wake Forest Athletic Director Ron Wellman are also reported as finalists, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

The article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that two sources close to the search process said that Hyman has been aggressively pursuing the job and is on Tennessee’s short list.

“I know there have been some conflicting reports, but I can’t be responsible for what other reporters say,” Hyman said, when asked about the report and whether he was pursuing the position.

Drew Harris, associate director of media relations, said no one in his office ever received information about Hyman being a candidate for the Tennessee job. He said the only truth is that Hyman is the athletic director at TCU.

“It’s like at Kansas; they said Roy Williams is their coach until he leaves,” Harris said.

Hyman came to TCU in December 1997 from Miami University in Ohio.

Braden Howell