HCHS coach moves back to UT

Former University of Tennessee defensive back Andre Lott has been educating young Hardin County High School athletes in both sports and life skills for three years. However, he is returning to his Alma mater to head up a new program at the school.

Lott was named to the position of Vol for Life (VFL)/Character Education Coordinator by new head Vols coach Derek Dooley. The newly-created VFL is a comprehensive program for UT’s football student-athletes that centers around four areas of personal growth: character education, life skills, career development, and spiritual growth.

“Hiring Andre to coordinate our VFL program is one of the many steps we have taken to reshape our culture into one that produces not only great players and great teams, but more importantly, greater men,” Dooley said. Lott is a former captain and four-year letterman from 1997-2001 for the university. On the field Lott was a part of 53 victories during his five years at UT. He also played five seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Redskins. And off the field he was a respected captain and a two-time member of former coach Phillip Fulmer’s Unity Council.

Dooley believes these experiences will enable Lott to be an effective leader of the new program. “He excelled at the highest level on the playing field in the SEC and the NFL, and did so as a man of high character and principles,” commented Dooley.

Lott has served as an assistant football coach, head track and field coach, and Success Coordinator in the Hardin County school system. As Success Coordinator, Lott taught kids of all age groups in real life skills dealing with such issues as broken families, drug use, bullying, and teen pregnancy.

I am excited about this opportunity and feel it is a job I was meant to do,” Lott said. “I have a tremendous passion for helping develop young people, and an even greater passion for my alma mater.”