<p>KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has fired Kevin Steele, and the longtime football coach could be paid up to $860,870 in severance for a job he had for seven weeks. </p>
<p>Steele was fired Tuesday without cause. He was given until Friday to turn in any university property still in his possession, according to a copy of his termination letter. </p>
<p>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-nfl-alabama-nfl-draft-auburn-tigers-football-751f3b629528fc0554628d3d6c2d3507">Tennessee hired the former Auburn defensive coordinator</a> Jan. 12 when Jeremy Pruitt remained head coach. But Pruitt was fired Jan. 18, and Tennessee <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-jeremy-pruitt-football-danny-white-tennessee-6fb90e7b7a692ae4d76dc15fcf3b4315">hired Josh Heupel on Jan. 27. </a> Heupel wrapped up his coaching staff earlier this week, and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-football-auburn-tigers-football-josh-heupel-tennessee-eede1a7eb91b742d950423525118ec80">Tim Banks is his new defensive coordinator</a>. </p>
<p>Steele will be paid out in monthly installments through Jan. 31, 2023, though he is required to try to get a job that would help ease how much Tennessee has to pay him. </p>
<hr />
<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
