KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee athletic director John Currie is defending the process of his coaching search and vouching for the character of Greg Schiano one day after negotiations between the two parties broke down amid a public backlash, with politicians and fans citing Penn State as reason not to hire Schiano.
Currie issued a statement Monday acknowledging that the Ohio State defensive coordinator was a leading candidate for the Volunteers’ coaching vacancy without explaining why the two sides parted ways — although Currie did mention the school investigated his tenure at Penn State.
Currie says Tennessee “carefully interviewed and vetted” Schiano and that the former Rutgers and NFL coach “received the highest recommendations.”
“Coach Schiano worked at Penn State from 1990-1995,” Currie said. “Consequently, we, of course, carefully reviewed the 2012 investigation report by Louis Freeh. Coach Schiano is not mentioned in the Freeh report and was not one of the more than 400 people interviewed in the investigation. We also confirmed that Coach Schiano was never deposed and never asked to testify in any criminal or civil matter. And, we conferred with our colleagues at The Ohio State University, who had conducted a similar inquiry after the 2016 release of testimony. I know that Coach Schiano will continue to have great success in his coaching career and wish him and his family well.”
A second-hand allegation in testimony surfaced last year stating that Schiano had witnessed Jerry Sandusky molesting a child. Schiano has strenuously denied this, but fans used the allegation as a rallying cry against him.
“I have followed Coach Schiano’s accomplishments throughout his career and have been fortunate to get to know him and his family over the last several years,” Currie said. “As reported by the media, he was a leading candidate for our position. Among the most respected professional and college football coaches, he is widely regarded as an outstanding leader who develops tough, competitive teams and cares deeply about his student-athletes.”
The school and Schiano were close to an agreement Sunday before the deal fell apart after a protest on campus and complaints on social media from fans, state representatives and gubernatorial candidates.
Tennessee is looking to fill its coaching vacancy following the Nov. 12 firing of Butch Jones.