UTC will be carrying out a national search for a new athletic director to replace Oval Jaynes, who is taking a new position with the university.
Mr. Jaynes, who has headed the Moc athletic program since February 1998, has been named an assistant to Chancellor Bill Stacy to oversee the Engel Stadium project.
The city and county recently gave Engel Stadium to UTC, and the UTC has extensive plans for the property. Those include its use for parking as well as construction of new athletic fields and a track.
UTC is also looking at bringing baseball back and using historic Engel Stadium as the home field.
Mr. Jaynes came to UTC from the University of Idaho, where he was athletic director.
Officials said Chancellor Stacy is expected to name the search committee, which is due to begin its work soon.
"I am very grateful to Oval for accepting my request to change his duties," Dr. Stacy said.
"Athletics directors stay very busy with the day-to-day operations
of a major university division. We need someone to give 24/7 attention to long-range planning and community investment from an sportsplex angle, and I am drawn to Oval to help with this vision because he has the best mix of skills to bring to this major assignment."
During Jaynes tenure at UTC, Mocs' athletics teams captured 21 overall
Southern Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned eight NCAA Championship berths.
"I want to express my thanks to Dr. Bill Stacy and the UT Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve as director of athletics for the last four years," Jaynes said. "To all of our coaches and staff, I want to thank them for their dedication and hard work in making UTC a better University.
"But most importantly, I would like to express my thanks to our
student-athletes who have excelled in their respective sports and have been able to continue their pursuit of their academic goals."
Since 1998, UTC has finished second among all SoCon women's programs for
the all-sports trophy honoring the all-around sports program each year.
The men's programs have finished among the top four each year for the
all-sports trophy despite not competing in the sports of baseball and men's soccer.
The overall grade point average for all athletic teams continues to
increase with eight teams having cumulative GPAs of over 3.00 during the 2000-01 academic year. UTC also boasts three Southern Conference
Post-Graduate Scholarship winners since 1998.
Jaynes also said, "I would like to say many thanks to the alumni, friends and family who support Mocs athletics.
"I look forward to the new assignment which will give me the opportunity to serve the University and to work closely with Dr. Stacy to make UTC the choice for higher education in Tennessee."
Jaynes will remain as director of the athletics department until June 30 or until a replacement has been named.