1. David Blackburn
Quick bio: Blackburn is a Loudon, Tenn., native, a UT grad and a former associate AD at Tennessee. He took over as AD at Chattanooga in April, 2013.
Pros: Blackburn has Tennessee ties everywhere, and has absolutely crushed it in Chattanooga, overseeing one of the most successful periods of Chattanooga athletics in school history. Buoyed by several slam-dunk hires, Chattanooga won the SoCon in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball during the 2015-16 season, becoming the first SoCon program to ever do that. Virtually everything he’s touched there – academics, attendance, facilities and donations – has seen incredible gains.
Cons: There isn’t much to say other than his lack of experience as the head man at a major program. Tennessee went with experience last time in Dave Hart, would they be willing to give Blackburn the chance to prove himself this go around?
