UT Chancellor Donde Plowman Shows Poise, Leadership as Vols Turn Towards the Future

"One of the first things I want to do, in all honesty, is listen. Go on a listening campaign and have one-on-one conversations with as many people as possible, and from that, I hope to draw the beginnings of how we're going to vision together what the next big things are we want to do as a campus."

Donde Plowman made this statement in May of 2019 after being announced as Tennessee's Chancellor. 

However, on Monday, the Tennessee faithful listened to Plowman alongside Randy Boyd and Phillip Fulmer. Plowman detailed the firing of Jeremy Pruitt and other Tennessee football staff members and outlined a plan for future success in Knoxville.

The Tennessee administration has been highly criticized for mishandling situations since Phillip Fulmer was fired in 2008, and for the most part, the criticism has only intensified at every turn. 

Things were different after Plowman spoke on Monday. There was a sigh of relief. Plowman thrived during one of the most crucial press conferences in Tennessee Athletics History, as she charted the course for future success.

Her next move will be hiring an Athletic Director. "We are optimistic about our future and our ability to attract a strong leader, who will then hire the right football coach. I realize many people would prefer we make those hires in the opposite order, but I hope everyone will accept the judgment that this is the way for us to have the long-term success we all want — for now and for the long-term."

Adding on her reasoning, she said, "Great ADs hire great coaches, and we're going to start with a great AD."

"We are looking for someone who is a strong leader and who has principles and values, who also has experience in hiring coaches and who can help us look toward the future. We've got a great future here. As disappointed as we are, we are determined to get this right and to get a good person in place both as AD and as head coach. I think leadership and integrity are huge. I think experience in this role will be important as well," she offered up what Tennessee will look for in filling the role.

Plowman concluded, "We feel a profound sense of responsibility to get this right for our student-athletes, our staffs, and our fans. I am highly confident we will do so."

For over a month, the Tennessee administration was silent to a public outcry regarding an answer on Jeremy Pruitt's future, but Donde Plowman answered the call on Monday. She provided a calming presence during a tumultuous time, and she sent reassurance that Tennessee is adamant about making the right move for the future of its football program. 

Sure, she could not give all of the facts about the investigation; still, Plowman did what she had to do, and she portrayed to the public a believable and united front in Knoxville following the firing of a head coach for the first time in recent memory. Amidst strife and turmoil, Plowman breathed life into future success on Rocky Top. 

Highly respected among her peers, Plowman could eventually be remembered as the piece of the puzzle that returns to prominence on and off the field. 

Rick Barnes summed it up during his post-game press conference following a loss to Florida: The leadership at this university is, I think, the best. Having a chance to have Donde and Randy (Boyd), to hear them sit there and talk like that, there are so many people that would love to have a chance to be part of this great university. I am just blessed that I am. Going forward, there is no doubt it is going to get better. There are going to be great days ahead for us because of that. There's too many people at this university that love it too much not to think that."

Eyes from across the country will be glued to Tennessee's search for an Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, and Plowman, with assistance, will lead the charge. Tennessee appears to be in the best position it has been from an administration in a long while with Plowman showing unmatched poise and leadership.