• #OVCExtra Podcast With Phil Dane
Former UT Martin Director of Athletics
Phil Dane, who was elected into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2021, passed away on September 28.
For 13 years Dane served as UT Martin’s Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance before moving into the role of Director of Athletics, a position he held from 2000-13 until his retirement in December 2013. His leadership and vision developed UT Martin from an OVC bottom feeder to a perennial league contender in mostly every sport.
During his 14 years leading the athletic department, 10 different UT Martin sports programs combined for 34 conference or regional championships. That number includes 20 OVC championship squads – 14 of which came over his final five years in that role. Five Skyhawk sports programs (volleyball, football, men’s basketball, softball, soccer) won their first-ever OVC title under Dane’s watch as athletic director while UT Martin additionally produced 19 All-Americans during his tenure.
Academically, the Skyhawks set school records for OVC Medal of Honor (perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average) recipients and OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll winners (at least a 3.25 GPA) in three straight years under Dane. He also oversaw 10 of UT Martin’s 18 all-time OVC Scholar-Athletes, an award which is considered as the league’s highest individual honor.
A big part of Dane's legacy was a $50 student fee increase in the fall of 2007. That generated roughly $600,000 annually and provided salaries for additional assistant coaches for volleyball, soccer, baseball and softball while creating a new full-time slot in the sports information department. While the additional funds also increased the operating and recruiting budgets, it also allowed Dane to make several facility upgrades to rank amongst the finest in the OVC. He administered facility upgrades for football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, softball and tennis facilities in his tenure. Almost $2,000,000 in private funding was raised and aided a significant portion of the Bob Carroll Football Building and the state-of-the-art Rhodes Golf Center, amongst other amenities. UT Martin's football press box, a facility that was spawned by Dane, officially opened in the fall of 2016 and adorns the "Phil Dane Athletic Director Suite" on the third floor.
An Air Force veteran, Dane was a three-year letterman in baseball at Tennessee Tech before graduating in 1978. He earned his Master’s degree from UT Martin in 1984. He is survived by his wife Debbie and daughters Shelly, Katie and Abbey.
Phil Dane and his family at the 2022 OVC Honors Brunch