Kim Caldwell of Marshall was named the new head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team.
Divergent opinions were expressed about the hiring on social media and in the women’s basketball community. Although Caldwell has been successful in her past head coaching positions, she lacks Power Five coaching expertise.
Under the terms of her five-year deal, Caldwell’s basic compensation is scheduled to be $750,000 yearly. She will get a sizable increase that will put her among the highest paid head coaches in the nation if her team wins an NCAA National Championship.
There are great expectations for both the position and the contract. Here are some reasons why the Lady Vols’ decision to hire Caldwell will either succeed or fail.
Why Tennessee may benefit from hiring Caldwell
As was previously said, Caldwell has a track record of success in her prior positions. As a player, she contributed to Glenville State’s conference title and NCAA Division II Tournament berth.
In 2016, she also assumed her first head coaching role at Glenville State. She quickly started to succeed with the Pioneers.
At the Division II level, she concluded with an overall record of 191-24. In addition to winning the MEC Tournament four times and the Mountain East Conference six times, she was voted MEC Coach of the Year four times.
In college basketball, it’s difficult to win at any level, yet Caldwell achieved victory at the top Division II level. After winning the 2022 National Championship, she was named the WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year and received the Pat Summitt Trophy.
Her innovative style of play will not only add enthusiasm to Tennessee but also set her apart in the SEC. Her teams shoot a lot of 3-pointers and play fast-paced offense. The Thundering Herd attempted 32 3-pointers per game and hit 33.2% of them during her one season at Marshall.
Her teams put a lot of pressure on Marshall’s defense, forcing 24.2 turnovers per game the previous year.
The play’s approach may work in Tennessee and provide new life to the series. It also prompts inquiries.
Additionally, Danny White, the director of UT sports, approves of the hiring. In the past, he has employed inexperienced, youthful coaches, and nearly all of them have failed miserably. He is giving the Lady Vol brand his personal touch and will provide Caldwell every tool necessary for success.
Why Tennessee could not succeed in hiring Caldwell
The most glaring issue with selecting Caldwell to coach the Lady Vols is that she has never led a Power Five team. Her sole Division I experience prior to her one season as head coach at Marshall was as an assistant at Sacramento State.
It’s important to remember that Rick Barnes was the first experienced head coach Tennessee hired for men’s basketball this century.
Although she has extensive and successful Division II experience, the move from Glenville, West Virginia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, is a significant one. Someone at Tennessee may feel the weight of the expectations.
For instance, in her five years as head coach, Kellie Harper led the Lady Vols to two Sweet 16 appearances with a 108-52 record. Danny White, the director of sports at Tennessee, opted to take a different approach as it was insufficient.
It seems sense to wonder if Caldwell’s approach would translate to the SEC as well. With her tallest player from the previous season at Marshall being six feet tall, her teams relied a lot on 3-pointers. Concerns have also been raised regarding whether she will be able to attract some of the best players while competing against universities like LSU and South Carolina.
In order to thrive in the SEC, where South Carolina’s 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso ran the show in 2022–2023 season, she will need to make a few minor adjustments.
Tennessee will most likely have a distinct presence in the SEC thanks to the defense.
In summary
For Caldwell, the bar is high, but so are the standards. We’ll see whether her style of play translates to the SEC.
Still, one thing is virtually certain. Caldwell will infuse the show with fresh vitality.
