The Ohio Valley Conference has inquired about pulling the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from the Southern Conference, and UTC chancellor Roger Brown said Tuesday the school is interested in exploring the possibility. Brown said incoming athletic director Rick Hart has been notified of the talks and will address the issue as quickly as possible when he reports to work around July 17.

“I want to be clear that we have not contacted any other conferences. We have been contacted by the OVC,” Brown said. “No decision has been made to leave the Southern Conference. I think the Southern Conference wants us to continue our membership.” OVC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher confirmed that since last fall he and Brown have had discussions regarding a UTC move. The school joined the SoCon when it entered NCAA Division I athletics in 1978.

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