By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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Dave Hart has been Tennessee’s athletic director for five years and managed the school’s consolidation of its men’s and women’s athletic departments.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart is retiring effective June 30.

The school announced the decision Thursday.

Hart said in a statement he decided this would be a good time to step down “as I thought about finishing this job well and how extremely proud I am of what everyone in our department has contributed collectively to get us to where we are today.”

Hart has been Tennessee’s athletic director for five years and managed the school’s consolidation of its men’s and women’s athletic departments. His tenure has included fundraising increases and improvement in facilities as well as some controversy.

Eight unidentified women sued the university this year and over its handling of assault complaints against athletes. The school is paying $2.48 million in a settlement.

Copyright 2016 by The Associated Press