The Athletics Department announced on February 12, 2007, an official policy for the retirement of numbers worn by UT athletes. A committee led by the athletics director was to consider candidates who had completed their UT careers for at least five years and met at least two of the following criteria: (1) first-team All-America as recognized by the UT media guide, (2) SEC player of the year as recognized by the UT media guide, (3) member of an Olympic team, and (4) member of an NBA or an ABA All-Star team. Also, candidates could not have achieved greater fame at another institution or university. Retired numbers could be reactivated with the approval of the athlete or his surviving family.
In 2013 new criteria were adopted that retired jerseys but not numbers. The new criteria were
- The student-athlete must have demonstrated outstanding character, integrity, and commitment to the University of Tennessee during his/her athletic career.
- Any student-athlete under consideration must have graduated or have left the university in good academic standing, which would have made them eligible to return and compete.
- Former student-athletes are eligible for this honor for five years after exhausting their eligibility. If they left school early without exhausting their eligibility, they are eligible eight years after leaving UT.
- Extenuating circumstances may be considered by the committee, and modifications of the policy may be considered under such circumstances by mutual agreement of the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics.
Student-athletes will be eligible for consideration if they achieve three of the five criteria listed below:
- SEC Player of the Year
- National Award (Player of the Year, Sullivan, or similar honor)
- First-Team All-American
- Career record holder in a significant category (as determined by the committee) at the UT, SEC, or national level upon completion of career
- National championship during tenure
There is a nominating committee that will determine when an individual will be honored with a retired jersey, and any member of the committee can bring a nomination. The composition of that committee includes the Faculty Athletics Representative, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, the sport administrator of the selected sport, the media relations’ contact for the selected sport or the associate athletics director/communications (or designee), and the senior woman administrator. The honor of jersey retirement shall be bestowed to an individual only by unanimous vote of the nominating committee. The committee shall also have the ability based on accomplishments/impact at UT (UT Personnel only), to honor nonstudent-athletes in a similar manner.