Kim Caldwell steps into the role after a successful stint at Marshall, where she guided the Thundering Herd to a 26-7 record and an impressive 17-1 record in the Sun Belt Conference. Under her leadership, Marshall made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997, earning Caldwell the title of Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
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Kim Caldwell
Prior to her time at Marshall, Caldwell spent seven seasons at Division II Glenville State, where she achieved remarkable success. During her tenure, she secured six regular-season conference titles and clinched a national championship in 2022. Her coaching prowess earned her the prestigious Pat Summitt Trophy in 2022 as the WBCA’s NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, along with four Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year awards.
Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity, Caldwell stated, “I am honored and humbled to accept the role as head coach of this historic program at the University of Tennessee. I am excited to build upon the incredible Lady Vol tradition established by Pat Summitt and lead this team to new heights.”
Caldwell’s coaching style is characterized by a fast-paced offensive approach, which was evident in her teams’ performances. Under her guidance, Glenville State led NCAA Division II in points per game and turnovers forced, while Marshall boasted one of the nation’s most prolific offenses during the 2023-2024 season.
Danny White, Tennessee’s Director of Athletics, expressed confidence in Caldwell’s ability to revitalize the Lady Vols program, stating, “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. 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 will be formally introduced at a press conference on campus, succeeding Kellie Harper, who was relieved of her duties after five seasons. This marks the first time since 1974 that the Lady Vols will be led by someone other than Pat Summitt or one of her former players.
