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 ftball 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 schl 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 schls 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 gd 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 tk 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 ft 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.Cheap NBA Jerseys . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in ftball after officially calling it quits Tuesday. 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They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display.Sergio Ramos has leapt to the defence of Cristiano Ronaldo after the striker was bed by Real Madrid fans despite scoring and setting up his sides second goal in Tuesdays win over Roma.Ronaldo netted his 40th goal of the season in the last-16 Champions League clash and four minutes later set up James Rodriguez as Real secured a 2-0 victory in the second leg. Sergio Ramos says Real fans should support Ronaldo However, Reals all-time leading scorer, who had seven shots on goal during the first half and side-fted wide in injury time, was targeted by some of the Bernabeu crowd. Real Madrids Zinedine Zidane and Sergei Ramos speak following their Champions League victory over Roma I would tell the fans to think a little first, Ramos told Spanish newspaper Marca. I respect them but when thingss dont go well they should support their players because we all want the best for Real Madrid.ddddddddddddHes a historic player for Real Madrid, he keeps proving that year after year, lk at what hes achieved.When the fans at the Bernabéu b you it is because they want to transmit their demands to you, they want to push us and see the best performance from us. Balague: Ronaldo has peaked Guillem Balague has his say on Cristiano Ronaldos influence at Real Madrid However, Sky Sports Spanish ftball expert Guillem Balague believes the recent heckling will only make Ronaldo play better.Historically, being whistled is something that motivates him and you can see the reaction to that, he wrote in his weekly column.And this is a view also shared by Real coach Zinedine Zidane.It will only motivate him, Zidane told the Spanish television network TVE.The important thing is that every time Cristiano is on the pitch he wants to score and he keeps doing it. Zinedine believe the bs will only motivate Ronaldo Earlier this month Zidane insisted there was harmony in the Real dressing rm after Ronaldo caused controversy by claiming Madrid would be top of La Liga if all his team-mates were as gd as him.He later said he was misquoted, insisting he had been referring to fitness levels.Also See:Balague: Ronaldo past his peakZZ wants to keep RonaldoWATCH: Ronaldo milestoneReal ease into quarters ' ' '