New Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell vows to restore the historic program to its former glory.
Kim Caldwell and the Tennessee Lady Vols embark on a significant journey together, with the young coach tasked with revitalizing the historic program and propelling it back into contention for titles.
Caldwell, having coached only one of her eight seasons as a Division I head coach, steps into the spotlight, overshadowed by the legacy of the late Pat Summitt and her eight national championship banners adorning the rafters. Reflecting on Summitt’s transformative impact on women’s basketball during her introduction on Tuesday, Caldwell acknowledged the impossibility of replicating Summitt’s stature.
“I will never be Pat Summitt,” Caldwell stated. “Nobody can, but I will strive every day to be somebody that she would be proud of.”
Tennessee announced Caldwell’s hiring as the fourth Lady Vols coach in 50 years on Sunday, just before the women’s national championship game. Athletic director Danny White emphasized Caldwell’s standout performance during the weeklong search.
“We have a very competitive new coach and someone who wasn’t afraid of the challenge to restore this legendary program to where we all want it to be,” White remarked.
Caldwell faces a daunting task. She transitions from coaching in the Sun Belt Conference to the Southeastern Conference, which has produced the past three national champions. Additionally, she becomes the first Lady Vols coach not hailing from Tennessee since Summitt’s tenure began in 1974. Summitt’s illustrious career yielded a record of 1,098-208, with the Lady Vols also finishing as national runners-up five times.
Replacing Kellie Harper, who was relieved of her duties after a 108-52 record over five seasons, Caldwell aims to elevate the Lady Vols back to the elite ranks of college basketball. The SEC, a conference once dominated by Tennessee, now boasts eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Vols missed the final AP Top 25 ranking, and the SEC is set to become even more formidable with the additions of No. 7 Texas and No. 21 Oklahoma.
White emphasized Caldwell’s mandate to build a program capable of competing with the formidable opponents in the SEC and contending for national championships. Her five-year contract, worth $750,000 annually, underscores these expectations, with the potential for significant salary increases tied to championship success.
Caldwell’s coaching prowess is evident in her accolades, including the 2024 Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award for her achievements at Marshall. Her up-tempo style, showcased at Marshall where she led the nation in 3-pointers attempted and ranked fourth in scoring offense, aligns with Tennessee’s tradition of high-octane basketball.
Drawing parallels between Caldwell’s style and football coach Josh Heupel’s high-scoring offense, White expressed optimism about the Lady Vols’ future performance.
“If you like what you’re seeing in Neyland Stadium in terms of the amount of points we score, I think you’re going to like what you see on the basketball floor,” White remarked.
Caldwell is determined to leverage her experience at Marshall to swiftly acclimate to her new role and restore the Lady Vols to prominence.
“We want to make people proud,” Caldwell affirmed. “We want to really make sure that we get back on top.”
