Is Heath Shuler Leaving Congress To Take Tennessee A.D. Job?

Would Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., leave the House of Representatives to become athletics director at University of Tennessee?

Tony Basilo, a radio host, indicated the former Volunteers quarterback is at least exploring the idea after school officials contacted him following Mike Hamilton’s resignation earlier this month.

Basilo wrote in his blog that Shuler contacted past Tennessee football coaches Johnny Majors and Philip Fulmer to get their thoughts on the job.

Shuler’s decision could be complicated by the redistricting in North Carolina. A member of the conservative Blue Dog Caucus, his district leans Republican, though he won re-election by nine points last year.

It is possible the redrawing could dampen the three-term congressman’s chances of winning for a fourth time.

Shuler will also face some competition from his own party before the general election. After he ran a losing race for minority leader of the House against Nancy Pelosi, Shuler will be challenged in the Democratic primary from an Asheville city councilman.

Shuler spokesman Andrew Whalan issued a statement that did not specifically deny interest in the job.

“Congressman Shuler is focused on the very serious challenges facing our nation, including job creation and balancing our budget,” Whalan said. “He is currently and actively preparing for his next re-election campaign in 2012 and looks forward to continuing to fight for the working families of Western North Carolina in the years ahead.”