History of the Volunteers

The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In January 2021, Danny White was introduced as the Volunteers' Director of Athletics.

Men's and women's teams with the exception of women's basketball are called the Volunteers (often shortened to "Vols") The Tennessee women's basketball team is called the Lady Volunteers ("Lady Vols"). These names come from the nickname of Tennessee, The Volunteer State.

The Tennessee Volunteers have competed in the Southeastern Conference since its inception in 1932 and consistently been at the top. The Vols have adopted a tradition of competing in every sport often resulting in many teams being ranked in the top 25. Tennessee has been known for its football and women's basketball programs that have both featured several famous coaches including Robert Neyland and Pat Summitt. Tennessee's football team won the first-ever BCS National Championship Game and also represents the 9th winningest program in the NCAA. Tennessee women's basketball team won the 2007 and 2008 National Championships earning Pat Summit her eighth NCAA national title, which was at the time the most in college basketball. Overall Tennessee has won 147 regular seasons SEC championships and 23 national championships in women's basketball, football, men's indoor and outdoor track & field, women's indoor and outdoor track & field, and men's swimming & diving. The only Tennessee sport that does not compete in the SEC is women's rowing which competes in the Big 12. The rowing team formerly competed in Conference USA. They won the 2010 Conference USA rowing championship.

College Sports Established
1896

Location
Knoxville, Tennessee

College Name
University of Tennessee

Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States

Conference History
1932 – Present / SEC Conference
1921 - 1932 / Southern Conference
1896 - 1916, 1919 - 1921 / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Nickname
Volunteers - Tennessee is one of the universities that adopted its state nickname for its athletic teams.

Tennessee is known as "The Volunteer State," and has been since the War of 1812, according to the UT website.

"Tennessee acquired the name 'The Volunteer State' during the War of 1812. At the request of President James Madison, Gen. Andrew Jackson, who later became President himself, mustered 1,500 from his home state to fight at the Battle of New Orleans."

NCAA Championships
Baseball 0

Men's Basketball 0

Women's Basketball 8
2008, 2007, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1989, 1987

Football 6
1998, 1967, 1951, 1950, 1940, 1938

Soccer 0