KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former coach Phillip Fulmer has decided not to accept a position as a special assistant to University of Tennessee president John Petersen.

The university announced Monday that Fulmer was being hired for three months with a privately funded salary of $37,500 to assist with fundraising and outreach efforts.

Petersen announced Friday that after given some extra time to consider, the 58-year-old Fulmer chose not to accept the appointment. Instead he will work as an "alumni volunteer."

The announcement comes just days after faculty at the Knoxville campus complained that Fulmer's appointment was coming at a time when layoffs of non-tenured track faculty are being considered to meet up to $75 million in state funding cuts.