Tennessee inks AD Danny White to six-year contract extension paying him $2.2 million annually

Tennessee signed athletic director Danny White to a new six-year deal, according to a release from the school. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger provided additional details on the contract.

“Tennessee has signed AD Danny White to a new, rolling 6-yr contract paying him $2.2M a year, sources tell @SINow,” Dellenger wrote on Twitter.

“White is believed to be the highest paid SEC AD & top-8 nationally. He’s overseen a department that’s won 6 SEC titles in 2 yrs & had record fundraising in 2021-22.”

White took over the Tennessee athletic department in 2021 after he oversaw UCF from 2015-21. Since then, White hired Josh Heupel as the new football coach prior to the 2021 season.

Heupel followed White from UCF and since then, Tennessee soared to No. 1 in the country during the last season and made an Orange Bowl appearance, a win over Clemson.

“Danny White’s strong and innovative leadership of our athletics department has created a championship culture and excellence across all sports in record time,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a statement. “He’s built the best team of athletics administrators in the country, a team committed to our student-athletes’ well-being and to winning with integrity. He has set audacious goals for Athletics and is exceeding every milestone. I appreciate his leadership, his vision and his commitment to making the University of Tennessee the very best.”

White also talked about receiving an extension.

“I am so fortunate to be in the right place, at the right time,” White said. “We have exceptional leadership—starting with Chancellor Donde Plowman—and incredible support from President Randy Boyd and Board of Trustees Chair John Compton. We have the best roster of coaches in college athletics, talented student-athletes and a dynamic administrative team to support the enterprise.

“Most importantly, the passion of Vol Nation gives us a unique opportunity to build the very best athletic department in America. We’re just getting started on Rocky Top. I can’t wait to see what’s next!”

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The baseball team also qualified for the College World Series during White’s first year on campus. The men’s tennis team won the SEC Tournament and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.

Tennessee teams won five SEC titles since White was appointed athletic director.