Ex-Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall finds work at an NAIA school
Even though the NCAA has accused Donnie Tyndall of committing a handful of severe rules violations, the former Tennessee and Southern Mississippi coach still has managed to find work in college athletics.
Tyndall was hired Monday by Tennessee Wesleyan College as an associate athletic director. He will work for the NAIA school on a volunteer basis.
“I am very excited about my new position at TWC,” Tyndall said in a statement. “I am thankful for this incredible opportunity. This position will give me the chance to share my experiences with our student athletes and help them launch their careers. My goal is to help our college, our community and our students.”
A volunteer position at an NAIA school isn’t a glamorous job for someone of Tyndall’s stature, yet it offers him a fresh start after the chaos of the previous year and a half.
Not long after Tennessee hired Tyndall from Southern Mississippi in spring 2014, the Golden Eagles admitted they were under investigation by the NCAA for potential major violations committed under Tyndall’s watch. Tennessee subsequently fired Tyndall after just one season even though he had done a commendable job reinvigorating the Vols fan base and coaxing 16 wins out of a modestly talented roster.
The notice of allegations the NCAA sent Southern Mississippi in July accused Tyndall of arranging fraudulent academic credit for seven prospective student athletes and of providing thousands of dollars in cash and prepaid cards to help two players pay for room and board expenses. The NCAA also alleged that Tyndall failed to cooperate with its investigation and went so far as to obstruct it by deleting pertinent emails and providing false or misleading information.
Tyndall has denied knowingly violating NCAA rules and has insisted that “a fair review of the evidence will show that the allegations that I did so are simply wrong.” How severely Tyndall will be punished, if at all, won’t be clear until sometime after Southern Mississippi responds to the notice of allegations.
Tennessee Wesleyan’s release announcing Tyndall’s hiring makes no mention of any violations he allegedly committed. Tyndall’s primary role at his new school will be in an administrative capacity.
“I feel that his years of athletic experience at different collegiate levels will only enhance the department and our athletic offerings at TWC,” Tennessee Wesleyan athletic director Donny Mayfield said in a statement.
“Coach Tyndall has a servant’s heart, and I appreciate his willingness to volunteer with our athletic department to aid in the supervision of our athletic programs and provide his insight with new ideas and experiences that will better serve our campus and community.”
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
