Tennessee has made a significant move by appointing Kim Caldwell, the current Marshall coach, as the newest head coach for the Lady Vols. This decision marks a historic moment as Caldwell becomes only the fourth head coach in the program’s history.
Athletic director Danny White wasted no time in announcing the hiring on Sunday, just a few hours after the women’s national championship game. It has been quite a while since the Lady Vols last played in this prestigious game, which they last won in 2008 under the leadership of Pat Summitt, securing their eighth and final national title.
Caldwell is set to be introduced during a news conference on Tuesday, marking the conclusion of a coaching search that began on April 1 when White made the decision to dismiss Kellie Harper. Harper had served as the head coach for five seasons at her alma mater, amassing an impressive 108-52 record.
“Our aim has always been to discover a dynamic head coach capable of bringing our women’s basketball program back to its former national glory,” stated White. “Kim Caldwell is the perfect individual to guide us towards our goal.”
Caldwell was honored with the prestigious 2024 Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award due to her remarkable performance at Marshall. Under her guidance, the team achieved a remarkable 26-7 record, securing the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament berth and the first since 1997. Throughout her illustrious coaching career, Caldwell has amassed an impressive record of 217 wins and only 31 losses in eight seasons as a head coach.
In her sixth season at Glenville State, she guided the team to victory in the 2022 Division II national championship. Throughout her tenure, she secured seven NCAA Tournament berths, showcasing her exceptional coaching skills. As a testament to her outstanding performance, Caldwell was honored with the prestigious Pat Summitt Trophy, awarded by the WBCA for being the NCAA Division II coach of the year for the 2021-22 season.