UT fires the director of football operations

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) The University of Tennessee has fired a long time associate of football coach Butch Jones for “gross misconduct.”

The accusations against Director of football operations Chris Spognardi came from a financial audit.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Spognardi was put on administrative leave back in August.

But the paper obtained a letter sent to him in December officially terminating him.

That letter said he was being fired for (unspecified) information gathered by the University’s Office of Audit and Compliance.

Spognardi was in charge of day to day operations for the team, including travel.

His attorney told the paper that he blamed the business office for using an archaic system requiring cash only payments for out of town trips.

Spognardi came to UT with coach Butch Jones.

They had worked together at both Cincinnati and Central Michigan.