South sees business rising: A survey of how businesses see the year ahead shows that Southern companies are more optimistic than companies elsewhere in the nation. Thirty percent of the Southern businesses that participated in the Right Management survey say they see 2011 as “a year of growth and recovery marked by increased hiring and new talent development initiatives.” That compares favorably with 22% of national companies that predict new hiring this year. Sixty-three percent of Southern companies say 2011 will be a year of caution, with limited hiring, compared with 58% of U.S. businesses. But while 16% of American companies say 2010 will be sluggish, with postponed initiatives, just 6% of Southern companies hold that view. Right Management polled more than 700 firms, including 89 in the South.
Coach out after six years: Tennessee has fired basketball coach Bruce Pearl after a season that saw him charged with unethical conduct for lying to NCAA investigators during a probe into recruiting. In six seasons, the 51-year-old Pearl led the Volunteers to their first No. 1 ranking and first NCAA tournament regional finals appearance, missing out on a trip to the 2010 Final Four by a single point. Pearl confirmed the firing on a Facebook post, saying, while the decision was not a surprise, it was “perhaps the saddest day of my life.” Pearl acknowledged in a tearful press conference on Sept. 10 that he had given investigators false information when asked about a cookout at his home attended by high school juniors. The NCAA has since charged the Tennessee basketball and football programs with a dozen violations.
