March 22, 2011
To: Knoxville-area UT Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek
Subject: Bruce Pearl
Late last night, the University of Tennessee reached an agreement with head men's basketball coach Bruce
Pearl that will relieve Pearl and his immediate staff of their duties. The process of finding the next
head men's basketball coach at Tennessee will begin immediately.
The following statements were included in the announcement sent to media:
Statement from Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek
In September, I said that Bruce Pearl was our coach and I expected him to be our coach for a long time.
I am disappointed with the events that have brought us to this point today, events that I would call
"the cumulative effect of evolving circumstances."
Since our September news conference, several instances have occurred that have caused us to change our
position, as indicated in Mike's comments.
I care about Coach Pearl and his family. I appreciate the job that he has done at Tennessee.
From the university's perspective, this was an institutional decision, with counsel and input from many
who know and love this university.
Mike Hamilton has kept me informed throughout the past weeks and I have been involved and engaged in
the entire process.
I have kept the UT System President informed, and he fully supports the steps that Mike and I have taken. The president, in turn, has communicated with the Board of Trustees.
I have personally stayed in contact with Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jim Murphy.
Our job in administration is to weigh all the issues and all of the inputs -- sometimes including details
we cannot share -- and then make tough decisions. Our goal is to weigh all of the information and ultimately
do what is in the best interest of the University of Tennessee.
Going forward, I am confident that Mike Hamilton will find the right coach who can build on the foundation
created over the past several years.
Mike Hamilton has my support. I join him in looking forward to continued success.
Statement from Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton
Today, we are announcing that we have reached an agreement with Bruce Pearl that will result in him and
his immediate staff being relieved of their duties with the University of Tennessee men's basketball
program. This is a difficult day for many obvious reasons.
Six years ago, Bruce Pearl arrived on our campus and renewed hope in Tennessee basketball. He, his staff,
and our student-athletes have allowed us as administrators and fans to enjoy unprecedented success and
many victories during that time. He has become a friend to many and has done tremendous work in our community.
Upon receipt of our NCAA Letter of Inquiry in September, we made the difficult decision to forego common
national opinion and forge ahead with Bruce and his staff pending any further major infractions or issues
that would preclude our basketball program from representing the University of Tennessee in the right
manner.
The months that followed have been difficult on everyone -- our staff, our coaches, our administration,
our fans and, certainly, our young men. During this time, the dynamics of our case with the NCAA have
evolved further, including additional violations committed on September 14 and in March 2011. The cumulative
effect of the evolution of the investigation combined with a number of more recent non-NCAA-related incidents
have led to a belief that this staff cannot be viable at Tennessee in the future. Therefore, it is in
the best interests of our institution to move in a different direction.
We have included separation terms that will detail more clearly our role in the transition for Coach
Pearl and his assistant coaches. In the meantime, we have named native Tennessean and a former head coach,
Houston Fancher, as interim coach during our hiring process.
Our search process will begin immediately. This is a great job and will attract a significant number
of interested coaches. Much of that interest is a tribute to what Coach Pearl has helped to build, but
more importantly, what our fans have built. We will take an appropriate amount of time, but will move
as swiftly as is effective to bring this to conclusion.
Lastly, I want to apologize to our fans for my untimely comments prior to last week's NCAA appearance. While my comments were never intended for harm, they became an unneeded distraction to what has already
been a year of distractions.
Terms of Agreement:
* Head men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl will be paid at his current salary rate through June 30, 2011. He will also receive $50,000 per month for 12 months, from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, and will
also receive health insurance costs. This cumulative figure is $948,728.
* Additionally, the men's basketball coaching staff will each be paid at their current salary rate through
July 31, 2011.
To: Knoxville-area UT Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek
Subject: Bruce Pearl
Late last night, the University of Tennessee reached an agreement with head men's basketball coach Bruce
Pearl that will relieve Pearl and his immediate staff of their duties. The process of finding the next
head men's basketball coach at Tennessee will begin immediately.
The following statements were included in the announcement sent to media:
Statement from Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek
In September, I said that Bruce Pearl was our coach and I expected him to be our coach for a long time.
I am disappointed with the events that have brought us to this point today, events that I would call
"the cumulative effect of evolving circumstances."
Since our September news conference, several instances have occurred that have caused us to change our
position, as indicated in Mike's comments.
I care about Coach Pearl and his family. I appreciate the job that he has done at Tennessee.
From the university's perspective, this was an institutional decision, with counsel and input from many
who know and love this university.
Mike Hamilton has kept me informed throughout the past weeks and I have been involved and engaged in
the entire process.
I have kept the UT System President informed, and he fully supports the steps that Mike and I have taken. The president, in turn, has communicated with the Board of Trustees.
I have personally stayed in contact with Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jim Murphy.
Our job in administration is to weigh all the issues and all of the inputs -- sometimes including details
we cannot share -- and then make tough decisions. Our goal is to weigh all of the information and ultimately
do what is in the best interest of the University of Tennessee.
Going forward, I am confident that Mike Hamilton will find the right coach who can build on the foundation
created over the past several years.
Mike Hamilton has my support. I join him in looking forward to continued success.
Statement from Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton
Today, we are announcing that we have reached an agreement with Bruce Pearl that will result in him and
his immediate staff being relieved of their duties with the University of Tennessee men's basketball
program. This is a difficult day for many obvious reasons.
Six years ago, Bruce Pearl arrived on our campus and renewed hope in Tennessee basketball. He, his staff,
and our student-athletes have allowed us as administrators and fans to enjoy unprecedented success and
many victories during that time. He has become a friend to many and has done tremendous work in our community.
Upon receipt of our NCAA Letter of Inquiry in September, we made the difficult decision to forego common
national opinion and forge ahead with Bruce and his staff pending any further major infractions or issues
that would preclude our basketball program from representing the University of Tennessee in the right
manner.
The months that followed have been difficult on everyone -- our staff, our coaches, our administration,
our fans and, certainly, our young men. During this time, the dynamics of our case with the NCAA have
evolved further, including additional violations committed on September 14 and in March 2011. The cumulative
effect of the evolution of the investigation combined with a number of more recent non-NCAA-related incidents
have led to a belief that this staff cannot be viable at Tennessee in the future. Therefore, it is in
the best interests of our institution to move in a different direction.
We have included separation terms that will detail more clearly our role in the transition for Coach
Pearl and his assistant coaches. In the meantime, we have named native Tennessean and a former head coach,
Houston Fancher, as interim coach during our hiring process.
Our search process will begin immediately. This is a great job and will attract a significant number
of interested coaches. Much of that interest is a tribute to what Coach Pearl has helped to build, but
more importantly, what our fans have built. We will take an appropriate amount of time, but will move
as swiftly as is effective to bring this to conclusion.
Lastly, I want to apologize to our fans for my untimely comments prior to last week's NCAA appearance. While my comments were never intended for harm, they became an unneeded distraction to what has already
been a year of distractions.
Terms of Agreement:
* Head men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl will be paid at his current salary rate through June 30, 2011. He will also receive $50,000 per month for 12 months, from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, and will
also receive health insurance costs. This cumulative figure is $948,728.
* Additionally, the men's basketball coaching staff will each be paid at their current salary rate through
July 31, 2011.
