Tennessee's Currie tabbed as new AD
KSU Sports Information
John Currie, Executive Associate Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee, has been selected as Kansas State's new Director of Athletics, incoming President Kirk Schulz announced Thursday. News of the hiring was first reported by KMAN 1350-AM on Thursday afternoon.
UT Athletics
John Currie has been hired as Kansas State's new Director of Athletics.
Currie, a graduate of Wake Forest University and a 10-year veteran of the Tennessee athletics administration, will be officially introduced at 10:30 a.m., Monday, during a news conference in the Legends Room of Bramlage Coliseum.
"We wanted to fill this position with the best candidate possible, and with John we feel we have accomplished that," Schulz said. "He brings energy, integrity and experience to his new role at Kansas State and we are pleased to introduce him as our new Director of Athletics."
Currie has served in various capacities at Tennessee over the last decade, most recently as the Vols' Executive Associate Athletic Director.
"My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Wildcat family," Currie said. "We are anxious to get to Manhattan and I am looking forward to this incredible opportunity."
As a key aide to Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton, Currie was responsible for the department's fundraising, marketing, ticketing, media relations, public relations, internet and broadcasting efforts while also providing oversight for the men's basketball program and other department initiatives.
Currie managed the coaching search in March 2005 that resulted in the hiring of Bruce Pearl, who produced a 22-8 record, SEC Eastern Division Championship and a No. 2 NCAA Tournament seed in his first season en route to 2006 National and SEC Coach of the Year honors. Pearl also went on to earn SEC Coach of the Year honors again in 2008 after leading the Vols to the program's first outright SEC title in 41 years.
In June of 2007, Currie also helped lead the search for the Vols' new baseball coach, Todd Raleigh, as well as the 2008 football search which brought Lane Kiffin to Knoxville.
An integral member of the facility planning team for UT's $200 million master plan renovations for Neyland Stadium, Currie also oversaw a $36 million arena renovation and basketball practice facility construction project. He developed and implemented the revenue models to fund both projects without outside funding from the state or local government, tax dollars or University-derived support.
During the fall of 2006, Currie helped the University secure a $50 million commitment for academic and athletic needs, a gift which represented the largest from an individual in Tennessee history. Under his leadership, giving to Tennessee athletics doubled from $19.5 million in 2003 to $41.6 million in 2008.
Currie, Schulz and search committee chairperson Amy Button Renz will participate in the formal news conference Monday morning. A live webcast of the press conference will be available at k-statesports.com.
