The post-Pat Summitt era at Tennessee has finally begun. Some 12 years and two coaches later, UT athletics director Danny White acknowledged it was time to begin a new era for the Lady Vols.
After firing Kellie Harper, a great former Lady Vol player who couldn’t get the team to an Elite Eight or Final Four in her five year coaching tenure, over the weekend, Marshall Women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell was named new Lady Vols head coach Sunday.
Caldwell was the Spalding Maggie Dixon Division 1 Rookie Coach of the Year this past season. Her first and only Marshall team finished 26-7, 17-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. It was Marshall’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1997.
Caldwell had signed a seven year deal with Marshall only a year ago. Before that she had great success at Division II Glenville State. Her seven season run there included the 2021-22 Division II national title.
Her overall career mark is 217-31, 94-11 the last three seasons.
White and UT are evidently unconcerned about the lack of major college experience on Caldwell’s resume.
Far more important in their eyes is Caldwell has zero ties or links to the Lady Vols storied past. She brings a fresh approach to the program, one many say has long been needed.
Both Harper and her predecessor Holly Warlick were part of the amazing Pat Summitt era.
Summitt had an astounding 1,098-208 record, a winning percentage of 84 percent. The Lady Vols won eight titles, had five second place finishes, played in 22 NCAA or AIAW Final Fours, and made 31 straight NCAA appearances.
No one can or ever will duplicate that. But what Tennessee wants to see now is at minimum more serious contention for SEC and national titles.
The challenge for Caldwell is to make her own mark, and get a new era of Lady Vols basketball going.
