Tennessee hires Kansas State's Currie as athletic director
When he announced his pending departure, Hart said he made the decision in part to allow the new chancellor to select an athletic director.
After spending two years as Wake Forest's assistant athletics director, Currie returned to Tennessee in 2000 and remained there until 2009 as an assistant athletic director and associate athletic director.
The Turnkey Sports and Entertainment firm assisted in the search along with a separate committee that included former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
The biggest has been a massive overhaul of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, including a $90 million press box and training facility and new luxury suites.
Currie inherits a Tennessee program that dramatically improved the financial health of its athletic department and the academic performance of its student-athletes while also dealing with controversy under Hart.
Tennessee reached a $2.48 million settlement last year in a Title IX lawsuit regarding its handling of assault and sexual assault complaints against athletes.
Hart's biggest coaching hire was the selection of Butch Jones, who rebuilt the football program and led Tennessee to three straight bowl victories but hasn't reached the Southeastern Conference championship game.