The men's program competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Former Notre Dame coach Sean Carlson was hired to lead the men's and women's cross country teams and the distance runners.

The team found more success with the hire of Stan Huntsman who led UT to many trips to the NCAA Tournament and won the Volunteers their first and only national title.

[10] In 2014, the Vols moved much closer to home with the opening of the new Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course on Alcoa highway across the Tennessee River from the main UT campus.

[11] Note: In 2020, due to COVID-19, the cross country season was shortened, and NCAA regionals were not held, as teams advanced straight to the championships.