Tennessee basketball announced a promotion for staffer Scott Daughtry on Monday morning. Daughtry, who spent the last two years as a graduate assistant, is Tennessee’s new Director of Strategy.
“Our entire staff is excited to welcome Scott into a full-time role,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said in a statement. “No matter his task over the last four seasons, Scott has attacked it with passion and excelled. There is no doubt he will continue to do just that as he takes on this new job, one that he is well-suited to shine in. Scott is a strong example of a young man coming to college and using the chances he was given to find a position doing what he loves upon graduation.”
In his role as Director of Strategy, Daughtry will work closely with Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting Coordinator Lucas Campbell. He will be a key part of Tennessee’s roster building, particularly on the player projection side.
Daughtry will continue to develop statistical models that help predict player success which is extremely important in the transfer portal era. The Vols have had success with players transferring up and contributing in recent years, most notably Dalton Knecht, Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic.
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“I’m grateful to coach Barnes for giving me this incredible opportunity,” Daughtry said in a statement. “It has been an honor to learn from him and the rest of the staff over the past four years. I am thrilled to continue to grow here at a place that means so much to me. I will do everything I can to help further elevate the Tennessee basketball program, as we continue to lead the way in the new world of college athletics.”
Daughtry was a manager for Tennessee basketball from April 2021 until December 2023 and was the Vols’ head manager for the back half of that stretch. An Anderson, South Carolina native, Daughtry has also participated in an internship with the Indiana Pacers surrounding basketball analytics.
Tennessee promoting Daughtry is one of many changes to its coaching staff this offseason. Assistant coach Rod Clark left for an assistant job at Indiana and Rick Barnes tabbed Amorrow Morgan as his replacement.
Barnes also added veteran assistant Steve McClain to his staff, moving Campbell’s role from an assistant to the Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting Coordinator position.
Tennessee basketball is coming off three straight trips to the Sweet 16 and two straight trips to the Elite Eight as they search for the program’s elusive first Final Four.
