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Former Vols football ops manager pleads to misconduct count

A former manager of UT football operations has pleaded guilty to a count of official misconduct.

A former manager of University of Tennessee football operations has pleaded guilty to a felony count of official misconduct.

Chris Spognardi, 32, faces a one-year probation term and is seeking judicial diversion, which would allow him to have a conviction-free record. The count is a class E felony, the lowest level of felony.

Spognardi appeared Thursday in Knox County Criminal Court with defense attorney Jeff Hagood. He pleaded guilty to an information, a charge returned in lieu of a grand jury review.

With his plea, Spognardi agrees to pay about $14,000 in restitution, records show.

Athletics officials put Spognardi on leave in August 2016 after questions arose about cash payments in the department.

Spognardi's job duties included distributing cash for per diem and bowl game expenses. The money was distributed to players, coaches and staff.

According to the state Comptroller's Office, Spognardi submitted false or altered documents to account for at least $14,085 in cash payments he got from the department."

Spognardi could provide no evidence that this money was used for legitimate UT Athletics purposes," according to the office. The documents included "invoices for food and other services that were never provided to the football team. Spognardi also submitted at least 18 fraudulent tip sheets indicating that he paid cash tips to various vendors and individuals."

Theft is not alleged. The crime is alleged to have occurred from September 2015 to mid July 2016.

Hagood, in a statement to 10News, said his client acknowledges doing a "poor job of reconciling and record-keeping."

The athletic department, however, also is to blame for allowing a faulty system to exist, he said.

"It was not a good system," Hagood said.

Spognardi, who worked some eight football seasons for Coach Butch Jones at UT, Cincinnati and Central Michigan, now lives in Florida, records show.

Hagood said his client was well regarded while at UT.

"Given the opportunity in the future, I think he will be successful," Hagood's statement reads.

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