Tennessee fires football coach Derek Dooley

AAA??Nov. 18, 2012?2:14 PM ET
Tennessee fires football coach Derek Dooley
By STEVE MEGARGEEBy STEVE MEGARGEE, AP Sports Writer?THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES?

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley watches during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley watches during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley, foreground, leaves the field after losing to Vanderbilt in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 41-18. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley, second from right, pulls linebacker Jacques Smith off the field during an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville , Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Amy Smotherman Burgess)

Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley attends a news conference on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, at the UT campus in Knoxville, Tenn. Dooley said that he hasn't been told whether the Volunteers plan to remove him at the end of the season, contrary to reports suggesting such a move was inevitable. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Michael Patrick)

Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley gives a news conference on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, at the UT campus in Knoxville, Tenn. Dooley said that he hasn't been told whether the Volunteers plan to remove him at the end of the season, contrary to reports suggesting such a move was inevitable. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Michael Patrick)

(AP) ? Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart said Derek Dooley improved Tennessee football during his three-year tenure as the Volunteers' coach ? just not enough to keep the job.

Dooley, 44, was fired Sunday after posting a 15-21 record that lacked wins over ranked opponents and Southeastern Conference foes. Dooley was 4-19 in SEC games and 0-15 against Top 25 teams. Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC) is 1-14 in the SEC over the last two years.

Hart said Sunday that Dooley improved the team despite inheriting a tough situation, but he noted that "you can't ignore the results at the end of the day."

Tennessee's 41-18 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday guarantees the Vols their third consecutive losing season.

Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will coach the Vols' season finale.

Associated Press

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