The 30 highest paid employees in the Tennessee Vols athletics department lead our Volunteers news for Monday, May 6, 2019.
Welcome to the first Monday in May for 2019. Even with the NFL Draft, basketball season and spring practice in the books, the Tennessee Vols have a ton of things happening in the world of sports at this moment.
With numerous postseason events happening and others coming, we’ll have a lot of that to get to with our morning update on Rocky Top. However, we actually start off with some feature news about pay in the athletic department. And we’ll follow that up with a former basketball player now joining the coaching staff.
Then we’ll recap baseball and softball series over the weekend, men’s and women’s tennis results in the NCAA Tournament, and a rowing event. We’ll close out with a preview of another postseason event related to women’s golf as well. So there’s plenty to get to. Let’s start with news in the overall athletic department.
UT athletics highest paid employees revealed – Phil Kaplan, Knoxville News Sentinel
A list of the 30 highest paid employees in the Tennessee Vols athletic program as of the fiscal year that ended in 2018 was revealed over the weekend. To nobody’s surprise, Jeremy Pruitt came in at No. 1 with a salary of over $3.8 million, and Rick Barnes came in at No. 2 with a salary of over $2.3 million. Athletic director Phillip Fulmer was fourth with a salary of $1 million. Last year’s offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton, and current offensive line coach Will Friend came in at No. 3 and No. 5 respectively.
"In 2019, Barnes received a new contract and will earn $4.7 million, making him the highest-paid employee in UT athletics. Jim Chaney was hired as football offensive coordinator and will earn $1.5 million and would be third in 2019. Derrick Ansley was hired as football defensive coordinator and will make $1 million and would be fifth in salary."
Lucas Campbell joins Tennessee basketball as grad assistant – Caleb Noe, WVLT
Tennessee Vols men’s basketball player Lucas Campbell just wrapped up his career on Rocky Top and will now join Rick Barnes’s staff as a grad assistant. He has reportedly already started his new role.
"In March, Barnes was asked about walk-ons Lucas Campbell and Brad Woodson.“They’re the ones that laid this foundation,” said Barnes.Barnes also referred to Campbell as one of “the most cerebral guys on our team.”"
Tennessee baseball drops series to Mizzou – VolsWire.com
The No. 23 ranked Tennessee Vols baseball team lost two of three games over the weekend to the No. 24 ranked Missouri Tigers in Knoxville. They lost the series despite winning the first game between the two.
"Tennessee dropped a 10-8 decision to the Tigers before an announced crowd of 2,243 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Losing the series was tough enough for the Vols (32-16 overall, 10-14 SEC), but this one had to sting considering Tennessee blew a 7-0 lead."
Tennessee softball a No. 2 seed in SEC Tournament – Marc Whiteman, WATE.com
The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team earned a No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament next weekend in College Station, Texas after closing out the regular season by taking two of three over the Texas A&M Aggies in Knoxville. They will play Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner between the Auburn Tigers and Missouri Tigers, who play each other at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
"Tennessee (39-13, 14-10 SEC) dropped Sunday’s series finale to Texas A&M (28-24, 6-18 SEC) 6-4 in 10 innings, after Baylee Klingler’s 3-run home run capped a 4 run 6th to put Texas A&M ahead. Haley Bearden would drive home the tying run with a single to center, but with the bases loaded and one out, Ashley Morgan lined into an inning-ending double play to squash the threat."
Men’s tennis advances to Super Regionals – WBIR
The Tennessee Vols men’s tennis team defeated the N.C. State Wolfpack 4-2 over the weekend to advance to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. It is their first appearance in that round in five years.
"Tennessee will face no. 3 seed Florida in Gainesville in the Super Regionals on Saturday at noon. The winner moves on to the finals site in Orlando."
Women’s tennis eliminated in NCAA Round of 32 – NCAA.com
The No. 20 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols tennis team fell to the N.C. State Wolfpack 4-0 in the Round of 32 to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. They finished the season 20-8 but will not advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
"Each super-regional site will feature two teams playing a single-elimination format. The super-regional winners advance to the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida, where the eight teams will compete for the national championship May 17-19."
Rowing finishes top 3 in women’s sprints – UTSports
Tennessee rowing finished in the top 3 in women’s sprints with a time of 6:45.828 in the Petite Final. Dartmouth won the event.
"The single-day regatta on Lake Quinsigamond began Sunday morning and all boats continued on to the finals in the afternoon. The Big Orange had three other boats racing and they all placed fifth in their respective races."
Women’s golf to begin NCAA Regionals – Brentley Romine, GolfChannel.com
The Tennessee Lady Vols golf team will begin play at NCAA Regionals Monday at Saugahatchee Country Club in Opelika, Ala as the No. 11 seed in the Auburn region. They are among 18 teams in that bracket, including four SEC teams, and among 72 teams overall in the Regionals.
"The regionals will be contested May 6-8. The host sites are Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Wash., Forest Akers West Golf Course in Lansing, Mich., Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla., and Saugahatchee Country Club in Opelika, Ala. The low six teams and three individuals not on those advancing teams move on to the NCAA Championship."