Tennessee tabs Marshall's Kim Caldwell as head coach

Field Level Media|published: Sun 7th April, 13:47 2024

A young boy with a Grant Williams autographed basketball at the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet held at the Knoxville Convention Center on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2023. credits: Angelina Alcantar/Special to the Knoxville News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tennessee hired Marshall's Kim Caldwell as its new head coach on Sunday.

Caldwell replaces Kellie Harper, who was fired last week after five seasons, 108 wins and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances while coaching at her alma mater. The Lady Vols posted a 20-13 record (10-6 Southeastern Conference) and dropped a 79-72 decision to North Carolina State on March 25 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

"From the beginning, our goal has been to find a dynamic head coach who can restore our women's basketball program to national prominence. Kim Caldwell is the ideal person to lead us," Tennessee athletic director Danny White said. "Kim has a winning formula that she has successfully implemented everywhere she has coached, with a fast-paced, high-octane offense and pressure defense that has led to remarkable results.

"In this new era of college sports, it was vital that we found an innovative head coach with a strong track record of winning titles. We are eager to return the Lady Vols to a championship level, and we're confident that Kim Caldwell is the coach who can lead us back to the top."

Caldwell, in her only season at Marshall, guided the Thundering Herd to a school record in wins (26), the Sun Belt title and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997. She previously coached at her alma mater of Glenville State, helping it win the Division II national championship while being named the recipient of the Pat Summitt Trophy as the WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

"I am honored and humbled to accept the role as head coach of this historic program at the University of Tennessee," Caldwell said. "I can't help but reflect on accepting the Pat Summitt Trophy three seasons ago and be moved by the great responsibility and opportunity of now leading and building upon the incredible Lady Vol tradition she built. I am so excited to get to work and can't wait to see what we all can accomplish together."

—Field Level Media