11. Barack Obama, 2009-2017
If you just look at the numbers, Barack Obama has overseen some real successes of Tennessee athletics. But the Vols have had their worst period in history in some sports under him as well, and he has the advantage of lots of sports.
For starters, the program has no national titles under him, which is unacceptable in this era given the number of sports Tennessee has had. He and Ford are the only presidents with that recognition for Tennessee athletics since 1970, and Ford was only there for three years. Thanks Obama!!!
Looking at football alone, the program had four straight losing seasons for the first time in history from 2010-2013, and they did not have a Top 25 ranking until the end of the 2015 season. Tennessee football is squarely .500 under Obama.
Meanwhile, Women’s basketball is at its worst state in history under him. Pat Summitt was forced to step down in 2012, and the Lady Vols have made zero Final Fours under his presidency along with suffering their worst regular season ever this past year and their first quick exit from the tournament in 2009.
Baseball has made zero NCAA Tournaments and seen one coach fired with another on the hot seat.
So what is keeping Obama from being at the bottom? Two things. In softball, the Vols have made four College World Series, even though they have no title.
And in men’s basketball, despite turmoil from Bruce Pearl to Cuonzo Martin to Donnie Tyndall to Rick Barnes, there has been remarkable success. The program has made four NCAA Tournaments in his eight years, reached two Sweet 16’s, and went to its first Elite Eight ever in 2008-2009.
That alone could bump him up. But no titles and the historically bad performances of the Lady Vols and the football program keep him this low. To be fair to him, he still has one year left to shoot up this list…all dependent on what Tennessee football does in 2016.
Next: #10: Jimmy Carter