Houston Fancher Named Tennessee Basketball Interim Coach After Bruce Pearl Fired

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Houston Fancher, a member of Bruce Pearl’s Tennessee Volunteers coaching staff, has taken over for Pearl as interim head coach. The former longtime Appalachian State head coach had been working as Pearl’s coordinator of video scouting.

Speaking to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Fancher commented on his new role, saying he received Pearl’s blessing to take over the team for the time being:

If there’s anything I want to get across, it’s not about me accepting a position, it’s about me being here during the transition for the players.

Since Tennessee doesn’t have any games left to play this season, Fancher’s job will be to hold the team together as best he can, which could include trying to hang on to recruit Kevin Ware. Tennessee has already begun looking for a replacement head coach, so Fancher’s time on the job could be very brief, but it’s still a critical role and could help retain him a spot on the next coach’s staff, as Pearl’s assistants were also fired Monday.

For more on the Vols, visit Rocky Top Talk.