Much deserved.
Tennessee’s Danny White is now the highest paid athletic director in the SEC. A contract extension revealed this morning that White’s annual base salary would move to $2.75 million with opportunities to earn bonuses of up to $600,000.
The new deal runs through 2030.
Here’s our @ESPN story on Danny White’s amended contract at Tennessee, which will make him the SEC’s highest paid athletic director. Per ESPN sources, White will jump to an annual base salary of $2.75 million with the possibility for $600,000 in bonuses. https://t.co/DFUgY2X1y2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 29, 2024
White’s work since taking over in 2021 has been simply remarkable. He worked quickly to bring Josh Heupel with him from UCF, almost immediately turning around the football program. A disastrous 2020 season ended with a complete cleanout of the football program, and despite heavy turnover, Tennessee ended up going 7-5. Heupel followed that up by ascending to the No. 1 ranking during the 2022 season, just narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff.
White also led Tennessee through a turbulent time with the NCAA following infractions from the Jeremy Pruitt era. The Volunteers got off with relatively minor penalties and no postseason ban.
He’s been able to support sitting head coaches Rick Barnes and Tony Vitello, helping both programs become one of the best in the country. His work culminated this year with the baseball team winning the College World Series in Omaha. White is a big reason that was able to happen, helping to keep Vitello around with a couple of contract extensions and a commitment to upgrade facilities.
White has also negotiated naming rights deals for the Food City Center and Neyland Stadium — which is now “preserved” by Pilot. The cash is certainly flowing through Knoxville.
Under his leadership last season, Tennessee finished third in the Learfield Director’s Cup, which gauges overall athletic department success.
Tennessee is ripping up the football recruiting trail and starting the year with a great chance to make the College Football Playoff. Rick Barnes is set to contend once again for another SEC Championship. Tony Vitello is coming off of a National Championship with a reloaded roster. Kim Caldwell is set to kickoff a new era for the Lady Vols.
It’s a really good time to be a Vol, and you’ve got Danny White to thank for all of that. It’s incredible how far the entire department has come in just a few years.