KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart will retire next summer after a tumultuous tenure that included consolidation of the mens and womens athletic departments, improvements in fundraising and facilities and the settlement of a Title IX lawsuit.Harts announcement Thursday came six weeks after Tennessee reached a $2.48 million settlement in a Title IX lawsuit regarding its handling of assault and sexual assault complaints against athletes. It comes two months after chancellor Jimmy Cheek said he was stepping down to return to teaching.The 67-year-old Hart says he once considered remaining athletic director through 2020 but changed his mind in part to allow Cheeks replacement to select a new athletic director. Harts retirement takes effect June 30, 2017.Sometimes you just know when its time, Hart said.Hart, who has held this position since September 2011, said the Title IX suit didnt prompt his decision.Under Harts guidance -- and with help from the launch of the SEC Network -- Tennessees athletic department posted a surplus of $13.1 million in 2014-15 after a deficit of $3.98 million in 2011-12. Tennessee student-athletes overall have posted grade point averages of 3.0 or better for five consecutive semesters.Were much more stable financially, Cheek said. We have much better teams in place and coaches in place. We have real optimism and a strong vision for the future, a lot of positive energy over here and we have a lot of excitement in our fan base for all of our programs.Hart, who makes about $800,000 per year, will continue to be paid through the remainder of his contract, which expires Sept. 20, 2018.Harts coaching hires had mixed results.Butch Jones has stabilized football and womens basketball coach Holly Warlick has reached three regional finals in four years since taking over for Pat Summitt. Beth Alford-Sullivan has revitalized the track program.Everything is about leaving a place better than it was when you came here, Jones said. I can tell you this. ... I think I speak for every single coach. Dave Hart has made Tennessee athletics much, much better because he was a leader.But mens basketball coach Donnie Tyndall was fired after only one season as the NCAA investigated his Southern Mississippi tenure. Hart responded by hiring Rick Barnes, who has over 600 career wins and who said Thursday that I wouldnt be here if it werent for him.Hes truly one of the great athletic directors in the last 25 years, Barnes said.Hart faced plenty of adversity during his tenure.Eight unidentified women sued Tennessee in February and said the school created a hostile sexual environment through a policy of indifference toward sexual assault complaints against athletes.Two other lawsuits came after Tennessee completed the consolidation of its athletic department. Tennessee had been one of the last schools to have separate athletic departments for its mens and womens teams.Former Tennessee associate director of sports medicine Jenny Moshak and two ex-Lady Vols strength coaches said they received less compensation than employees holding similar positions for mens teams. A $750,000 settlement was announced in January, though costs exceeded $1 million once attorneys fees were included.A $320,000 settlement was reached with former Lady Vols media director Debby Jennings, who said age and sex discrimination led to her forced retirement.Weve been through some tough times, been through some painful times with the passing of Pat Summitt (this summer), an extraordinarily emotional, painful time, Hart said. But weve had some really good times. And weve done it together.Hart encountered more criticism after Tennessee announced in November 2014 that all its womens teams other than the basketball squad would be called the Volunteers rather than the Lady Vols, a move that took effect in July 2015.I hope that the next athletic director appreciates and supports and values the Lady Vols brand for all womens teams at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, said Mollie DeLozier, who led a petition drive to preserve the Lady Vols nickname. The decision to remove that brand from all their teams (aside from womens basketball) has been widely seen as a negative. The new athletic director could sure start off on the right foot by restoring the name.Hart arrived at Tennessee in September 2011 after being executive director of athletics at Alabama for three years. He was Florida States athletic director from 1995-2007 and also spent 12 years at East Carolina, including eight as athletic director.My work ethic hasnt changed much, Hart said. My energy level hasnt changed much, and it wont as I go through this final lap of being a director of athletics. Its been a joy.---This story has been corrected to say Harts announcement comes two months rather than three months after chancellor Jimmy Cheek said he was stepping down. Imani Dorsey Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. 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DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings attempted to address the departure of Pavel Datsyuk by agreeing with Frans Nielsen to a six-year, $31.5 million contract Friday in the opening hours of free agency.Hes a centerman we needed after losing one in Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. We think he can play 200 feet, in all situations, including penalty killing and on the power play.Nielsen averaged 51 points over the last three years with the New York Islanders. The 32-year-old Nielsen, who is from Denmark, has scored 119 goals and added 230 assists over his decade in the NHL.Thomas Vanek also agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Red Wings. The Minnesota Wild bought out the final year of Vaneks contract and following a disappointing two-year stint with the team.Were hoping that weve got a motivated athlete, Holland said.The 32-year-old Austrian scored a career-low 18 goals last season, but has been a proven scorer in the past with 316 goals since Buffalo drafted him No. 3 overall in 2003 and he made his NHL debut two years later.Forward Darren Helm and defenseman Alexey Marchenko agreed to deals with Detroit to stay with the team just before they would have been available on the market.The Red Wings retained Helm with a five-year contract, counting $3.85 million against the salary cap each season. Helm had 13 goals and 26 points last season. He has 72 goals and 90 assists since making his debut during the 2007-08 season.As you watch the Stanley Cup playoffs, it re-emphaasized the importance of speed, and thats something Darren has, Holland said.dddddddddddd. Hes just 29 and we think hes going to have speed throughout the term of his deal. And, Im told he took less money to stay. Hes a homegrown player, a draft pick of ours, and were glad to keep him because hes becoming a bit of a leader.The Red Wings are also keeping Marchenko for two more seasons, taking $1.45 million off their cap each year. Marchenko is coming off his first full season in the NHL. The Russian played in 66 games last season, scoring twice and adding nine assists.Detroit desperately needed to add someone at center after Datsyuk decided he was done playing for the franchise and in the NHL. The Red Wings also added depth at the position later on the first day of free agency, agreeing to a one-year, $800,000 deal with Steve Ott. The 33-year-old Ott, coming off an injury-shortened season in St. Louis, has 106 career goals.Datsyuks agent, Dan Milstein, told The Associated Press on Friday afternoon that his client hadnt yet agreed to a deal to play in Russia next season. The Red Wings gained salary-cap relief by trading Datsyuk to the Arizona Coyotes a week ago. He has a year remaining on his contract and will count $7.5 million against Arizonas salary cap. Even though it is a formality, the Coyotes have not signed off on Datsyuk playing in the Kontinental Hockey League. ' ' '