Freire Named New AD

Julio Freiere and family

Julio Freire, formerly the assistant/associate athletics director for development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is the 12th athletics director in UT Martin history. He succeeds Phil Dane, who retired on Dec. 31, 2013, after 34 years of service at UT Martin, the last 14 of which were as athletics director. “Julio demonstrates an understanding of protocol and team spirit necessary for this type of position,” said UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes. “He also exhibits a level of energy and understanding of how to interact with a whole cross section of individuals. He has seen the intricacies of Division-I athletics, and we are fortunate to have him here.”

Best Value University

For the third year, UT Martin joined UT Knoxville as the only Tennessee public universities named “Best Value” institutions by The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review bases the list on data gathered from institutional and student opinion surveys conducted from fall 2012 through fall 2013. The selection process considers data on more than 30 factors in academics, cost of attendance and financial aid.

Students Get Super Experience

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events on the planet and a great place to learn. Dexter Davis, coordinator of the sport management program in the College of Business and Global Affairs, took seven students to Super Bowl XLVIII. The weeklong trip enabled the students to put the NFL on their resumes and exposed them to contacts in the sport management business. Darrin Howard, a senior business administration major with a concentration in sport management from Union City, Tenn., said the trip was ideal for him. “I want to be an event planner, so what better way to learn than by going to the Super Bowl?”

UT Martin Super Bowl group
UT Martin sport management students who attended this year’s Super Bowl were (left to right)
Rachel Robison, Paris, Tenn.; Juwan Turner, Nashville; Reid Rickett, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; program coordinator Dexter Davis; Darrin Howard, Union City, Tenn.; Jacob Harris, Martin, Tenn.; Allie Mulvaney, Cordova, Tenn.; and Sam Curtis, South Fulton, Tenn