University of Tennessee Athletics
Fulmer's Contract Extended Through 2008
January 18, 2002 | Football
Jan. 18, 2002
KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee Acting President Eli Fly and Director of Athletics Doug Dickey announced today an extension of the university's contract with Phillip Fulmer that increases the head football coach's annual compensation package to $1.65 million. The contract now runs through Dec. 31, 2008.
Fulmer has guided the tradition-rich Volunteers program to arguably its best decade of football. He was named to the head coaching position during the 1992 season and since has posted a 95-20 record that includes one national championship, two Southeastern Conference titles and three divisional crowns.
"The university's position is that we should pay head coaches salaries that are competitive with programs like ours," Fly said. "Coach Fulmer's package meets that standard, and it recognizes the high degree of success our football program has enjoyed under his leadership."
The agreement calls for a base pay of $225,000. Radio and television commitments account for $675,000, while endorsements and special event appearances total $550,000. These figures result in an 11.5-percent increase over Fulmer's 2001 salary. An additional $200,000 in deferred income per year is payable to Fulmer only at the completion of five more years with Tennessee. Conversely, Fulmer would be required to pay the university $500,000 should he break his contract during the 2002 calendar year and $250,000 for discontinuation during the 2003 calendar year.
All funding for the athletics department, including coaching salaries, is from monies generated by athletics resources and not from appropriated funding by the state of Tennessee or other university-generated revenues.
"This contract is a reflection of the success Coach Fulmer has brought to our football program," Dickey said. "It also is a sign of the confidence we have in his continued performance."
Fulmer's first five seasons as UT head coach were successful by any standards, with the Vols going 43-9 and winning four of five bowl games. The Winchester native found himself atop the winningest active coaches' list (minimum five seasons) for Division I-A football. But it has been during the last half-decade that Tennessee's fortunes reached unprecedented heights. The Vols have compiled an SEC-best 52-11 record during that span with three 11-win seasons. Included was a perfect 13-0 campaign in 1998 that culminated in the school's first consensus national championship in 47 years.
"I am excited and appreciative of the confidence and support that our administration continues to show in our football program -- and in me as the head coach," Fulmer said. "Our successes have in large part been due to the effort and hard work of many outstanding players, coaches and staff, along with the support of our great fans and administration. I am very proud of what we have accomplished in our 10 years and look forward to many great years ahead."
Tennessee has been in the national championship picture four of the past five seasons and polished off this year's 11-2 finish with a 45-17 win over Michigan at the Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl. The decade of success has been reflected in increased fan interest for the Big Orange throughout the country and, certainly, at Neyland Stadium, where more than 6 million fans have passed through the gates to watch the Fulmer-led Vols since 1992.
"In funding the new contract," Dickey said, "part of the money for this adjustment is reflective of commercial contracts that have arisen from the success of our programs. Those contracts, such as are currently in place with Adidas and Verizon, include coaching appearances. We appreciate the cooperation of all of our coaches, including Coach Fulmer, in our promotional opportunities and endorsements."
| ="" color="#FFFFFF" size="" 2""="">FULMER'S HEAD COACHING RECORD | |||||
| Season | School | Won | Lost | Pct. | Bowl |
| 1992 | Tennessee | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | Hall of Fame |
| 1993 | Tennessee | 10 | 2 | .833 | CompUSA Citrus |
| 1994 | Tennessee | 8 | 4 | .667 | Outback Gator |
| 1995 | Tennessee | 11 | 1 | .916 | CompUSA Citrus |
| 1996 | Tennessee | 10 | 2 | .833 | CompUSA Citrus |
| 1997 | Tennessee | 11 | 2 | .846 | FedEx Orange |
| 1998 | Tennessee | 13 | 0 | 1.000 | Tostitos Fiesta |
| 1999 | Tennessee | 9 | 3 | .750 | Tostitos Fiesta |
| 2000 | Tennessee | 8 | 4 | .667 | SW Bell Cotton |
| 2001 | Tennessee | 11 | 2 | .846 | Capital One Citrus |
| Totals | 95 | 20 | .826 | (10 Years) | |
