In partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Office of Alumni Affairs and the Chancellor’s Associates, alumnus Tee Martin (’00) hosted his first namesake golf tournament on Friday, June 24, at Avalon Country Club. The Tee Off with Tee Martin Golf Tournament raised over $90,000 for UT’s Flagship Scholarship, one of three last-dollar Tri-Star Scholarships that help Tennesseans afford to attend UT. Funds from the event specifically benefit Flagship Scholarships for incoming students from Austin-East, Central, and Fulton high schools, all located in Knoxville.
Martin’s history with the university began as a student and football quarterback, assisting the team to its 1998 national championship. More recently, his lengthy coaching career brought him back to UT in 2019 as an assistant head football coach and passing game coordinator. He moved to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens as wide receivers coach in 2021.
At the event, Martin spoke with radio station 99.1 The Sports Animal about why his heart is behind this golf tournament.
“We have the opportunity to provide scholarships for students to attend the university,” said Martin. “Whatever we can do to help the Knoxville community, I’m all for it. We lived in this community, and three of my kids went to high school here, so I know how much this is going to make a difference not only for the community but also for UT.”
Whatever we can do to help the Knoxville community, I’m all for it. We lived in this community, and three of my kids went to high school here, so I know how much this is going to make a difference not only for the community but also for UT.
– Tee Martin (’00)
Gary Beard (’80), a longtime friend of Martin’s and current UT Alumni Board of Directors president, participated in the tournament for the same reason.
“I am proud to know that I helped a student become a future alumnus of the University of Tennessee!” said Beard. “The tournament was a great experience. The golf course was beautiful, the whole event was well-run, and everyone had a smile on their face.”
As well as golfing, participants and guests had the opportunity to bid at a silent auction on special items, such as Head Baseball Coach Tony Vitello’s signed Vols jersey and a framed football play from the Vols’ national championship game signed by Martin. Among the 20 teams that competed at the tournament, Rocky Top Materials led the pack and took home the first-place trophies.
Chip Bryant, vice chancellor for advancement, congratulated the winners. He emphasized that the real winners were the incoming UT students who would benefit from the scholarship money raised by the tournament.
“UT Knoxville is the state’s flagship, land-grant university with a mission of educating Tennessee’s citizens,” said Bryant. “This tournament and Tee Martin’s exemplary servant leadership help us do that. I would like to thank Tee Martin and our sponsors for supporting local students’ UT education through the Flagship Scholarship and helping UT live out its mission to provide education for our great state.”
