The Lady Vols simply haven’t lived to the Lady Vol standard, and Tennesee athletic director Danny White is charged with making an important hire in hopes of restoring the brand. Here’s a look at who could potentially be the next head coach of the Tennessee’s historic women’s basketball program.
Kara Lawson, Duke
The former Lady Vol seems like an obvious candidate and appears to be one who is in strong consideration as Danny White looks to move quickly. Lawson enjoyed a decorated career at the collegiate level before a 13-year professional career, has been a successful broadcaster, spent time on an NBA bench as an assistant coach and has enjoyed success in her tenure at Duke.
Lawson has gone 68-33 in four seasons at Duke thanks to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She’s led the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance this season.
announced on Monday it was parting ways with women’s head basketball coach Kellie Harper, who led the Lady Vols to a 108-52 record (53-24 in SEC play) in her five seasons as head coach.
The split is an unfortunate one. Harper was a decorated player for the Lady Vols, helping lead the program under Pat Summitt to three national championships during her playing career, and she has a great love for the University as a native of Sparta, Tenn.
Harper guided the Lady Vols to back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2022 and 2023, but she failed to reach the Elite Eight. The program hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2008, and Tennessee hasn’t finished better than third in the SEC since 2014-15.
Jeff Walz, Louisville
Walz has as good of a resume as you’ll find and is in strong consideration for the job as a result. This isn’t the first time the 52-year-old has had interested in the Lady Vols job either.
Walz is the all-time winningest coach in program history with a record of 465-135. He’s guided the Cardinals to the Sweet Sixteen 12 times, the Elite Eight eight times, the Final Four four times and has made two trips to the National Championship game. Walz is 40-15 in the NCAA Tournament after inheriting a program that had four tournament wins and had never reached a Sweet Sixteen before he arrived.
