Phillip Fulmer, 62, has been appointed as consultant and special assistant to the East Tennessee State University's athletic director to help restore the college's football program.

The program had an 80-year history before being disbanded in 2003 due to budget cuts and revenue shortfalls.

The Buccaneers football team is now expected to take to the field again in 2015.

In addition to restarting the program, Fulmer will also help the university in finding a suitable head coach for the program.

"When you have a chance to use the knowledge and skill of a Hall of Fame coach who has won a national championship and is revered as one of the truly great coaches in college football, you have to jump on that opportunity," ETSU athletic director Dr. Richard Sander said. "Phil Fulmer will make a huge contribution to the success of ETSU football."

Fulmer, who previously served as Tennessee's head football coach (1992-2008), was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame last year December, acknowledging his achievements that include a national championship (1998), two Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles and seven divisional titles.

Fulmer was an offensive guard from 1968-71 at Tennessee, from where he graduated in 1972. He coached for five seasons at Wichita State University before returning to Tennessee as an assistant coach and head coach at the end of the 1992 season.

Most probably ETSU will leave the Atlantic Sun Conference to join an association that sponsors football. The team will play at the Football Championship Subdivision, equivalent to their former NCAA Division I-AA in which they used to compete.

The Tennessee Board of Regents, last month, approved a $125 student fee increase to help fund the program. The fee hike is expected to generate approximately $2.5 million in revenue. In addition, a local businessman has donated $50,000 for the program.

The Buccaneers played their last game on Nov. 22, 2003, against The Citadel, winning 16-13. An effort to rebuild the program was considered during the 2006-07 academic year, but was not successful when students voted down a $200 fee increase.