As Danny White continues to drive Tennessee Athletics’ revolutionary success, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman announced today that she has extended White’s contract as vice chancellor and director of athletics until 2030.
“Danny is not joking when he says he and his group of outstanding coaches and administrators are trying to create the greatest athletic department in the nation,” Plowman added. “Danny is a visionary who leads both our conference and the nation with a daily focus on delivering the greatest possible experiences for our student-athletes, supporters, and sports department. Its dedication and attention are producing amazing outcomes in every sport.
Tennessee Athletics has seen unheard-of success under White’s direction, which culminated in 2023-24 being the team’s greatest year ever overall. A few of the highlights are:
- A first in UT history, Tennessee was one of just two Power Five institutions to send every team to the postseason the previous season.
- For the first time since the Learfield Directors’ Cup was established in 1993, Tennessee placed third in the standings. Under White’s direction, Tennessee finished in the top three Directors’ Cup rankings two times.
- Before White arrived, Tennessee had never won the SEC All-Sports Trophy three times in a row.
Under head coach Tony Vitello, baseball earned its first national championship. It was the school’s first major championship since 2009. - The school’s two greatest athletics department GPAs ever were 3.40 in the fall of 2023 and 3.37 in the spring of 2024.
- The Tennessee Fund concluded the fiscal year 2024 on June 30 with a total of $139.7 million raised, marking its third straight record year across a number of fundraising indicators.
“Our UT System president, Randy Boyd, our board chair, John Compton, and our chancellor, my boss, Donde Plowman, all have outstanding leadership at the University of Tennessee,” stated White. “I’m appreciative of the chance to work for a company that promotes talent and has helpful, talented staff around me. With the strongest fan base in sports, our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are motivated to be a part of something greater than themselves. On Rocky Top, we have the chance to work together to create something truly remarkable. I think the momentum we’ve gathered in these first few years is only the start of something much bigger and more meaningful.
These pinnacles complete an incredible three-year streak. The only university in the US with postseason appearances in baseball, softball, football, women’s basketball, and women’s basketball for each of the last three years is Tennessee.
Unmatched operational and financial success has paralleled athletic achievement. White started the My All Campaign in 2021 with the intention of raising $500 million by the year 2026. $559 million in commitments has already surpassed that target for the campaign. With over $200 million in operational income in 2023, Tennessee Athletics surpassed the previous year’s record by over $50 million. This was the team’s greatest operating revenue ever.
Neyland Stadium and Lindsey Nelson Stadium, two legendary Tennessee athletics sites, have been modernized under White’s direction, elevating the fan experience.
In order to acknowledge faculty members for their professional competence and exceptional university citizenship, he established the Athletics Professor of competence awards, which are supported by Tennessee Athletics.
Amazing and quick achievements have resulted from White’s ability to assemble and manage a talented group of winning coaches and athletic administrators while keeping student-athletes and supporters front and center. As a visionary who paved the ground for changes in collegiate athletics, he is highly regarded in the field
