Coach Kellie Harper fired

#828
#828
LadyVol1908 said:
It’s literally in the Maria article. Like the first or second paragraph. It doesn’t specifically state it’s Jon, but it refers to staff changes and we all deduced/speculated that it could be Jon.
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Unless there is another Maria and another article, it literally is NOT in the first or second paragraph or in the entire piece.

Tennessee and Kellie Harper part ways​

Tennessee releases statement of leadership change​

Maria M. CorneliusMARIA M. CORNELIUS5 hrs246

Tennessee will part ways with Kellie Harper after five seasons, and the second coaching search in program history will get underway and need to move quickly as the first spring evaluation session occurs in late April.

"Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete," Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in a release. "Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women's basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives."

In 2019, Harper replaced former Lady Vol player and coach Holly Warlick in the program's first-ever coaching search. Warlick had succeeded Pat Summitt, who was forced into retirement in 2012 because of early onset dementia and died in 2016.

"It has been an honor to serve at my alma mater and to coach a Lady Vol program I love so dearly," Harper said. "I am grateful for the opportunity my staff and I have had to lead an amazing group of young women and to mentor them on the court as well as provide them with life skills that will benefit them far beyond the game of basketball."

The departure of a second head coach with legendary ties to Tennessee likely will inform this coaching search since neither became a long-term solution, and a loyal fan base has dealt with the uncomfortable exit of two beloved players.

Harper, a native of Sparta, Tennessee, won three national titles as a point guard at Tennessee in 1996, 1997 and 1998. As a head coach, Harper posted a record of 128-65, often against one of the toughest schedules in the country with two Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023 to mark the first time the Lady Vols had reached that milestone in six years.

Tennessee lost in 2024 to NC State, which is now in the Final Four.

The Lady Vols remain the mothership of the sport because of Summitt's lasting legacy, and an opening at Tennessee will draw a lot of interest. The question, as always, is how much will Tennessee pay? A top coach far exceeds $1 million. An elite coach is $2 million to $3 million.

"After seeking input from our student-athletes, I will begin an aggressive search process to find the next leader for our iconic women's basketball program," said White. "To protect the integrity of this process, you will not hear from me until we are ready to announce our new head coach."
 
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#829
#829
volfan102455 said:
Most of you on here who are happy, I can guarantee will more than likely be underwhelmed with the hire. None of the very successful coaches are leaving where they are to come to Tennessee. I could be wrong but suspect this will be an up-and-coming coach.
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if that’s the case, i’d be pretty disappointed in DW.
 
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#830
#830
volfan102455 said:
Most of you on here who are happy, I can guarantee will more than likely be underwhelmed with the hire. None of the very successful coaches are leaving where they are to come to Tennessee. I could be wrong but suspect this will be an up-and-coming coach.
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And that might be a good thing. On the other hand it may not be a up and coming coach. Your one of them that seem to act like there isn’t a better coach out there to be had. Your wrong. GBO!
 
#832
#832
volfan102455 said:
Most of you on here who are happy, I can guarantee will more than likely be underwhelmed with the hire. None of the very successful coaches are leaving where they are to come to Tennessee. I could be wrong but suspect this will be an up-and-coming coach.
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Maybe it will be an up-and-coming coach, none of us really know at this point. Given the eye for coaching talent that Danny White has demonstrated through his career, I will give him the benefit of the doubt if he chooses to go that route.

Who knows? Maybe that's what the program needs. Something fresh and ready to pave a new path forward, much like Pat did when she started out. Or maybe he will go with a splashy hire that creates headlines across the country. We just don't know, but I think it's clear to most observers that he is committed to bringing all of our sports programs to the forefront.
 
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#833
#833
volfan102455 said:
Why would she? She has turned SC into just that.
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Sure, they’re the greatest now. Not the greatest ever. Maybe she’s content with what’s she’s built there and wants to always be there. But money talks. And lure of returning the best program in the history of the sport around, competitors think differently sometimes. I’m not saying it’s a no brainer for her to leave, I’m just saying you at least have the conversation and do everything you can to convince her. We shouldn’t think “she’ll never leave South Carolina”. We’re supposed to be the standard. Act like it.
 
#834
#834
I have a feeling many of you who are expecting a Dawn Staley type of hire is gonna be disappointed!

We got lucky with the Heupel hire by Danny, don’t see that being duplicated..
 
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#836
#836
dazzleme said:
Unless there is another Maria and another article, it literally is NOT in the first or second paragraph or in the entire piece.

Tennessee and Kellie Harper part ways​

Tennessee releases statement of leadership change​

Maria M. CorneliusMARIA M. CORNELIUS5 hrs246

Tennessee will part ways with Kellie Harper after five seasons, and the second coaching search in program history will get underway and need to move quickly as the first spring evaluation session occurs in late April.

"Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete," Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in a release. "Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women's basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives."

In 2019, Harper replaced former Lady Vol player and coach Holly Warlick in the program's first-ever coaching search. Warlick had succeeded Pat Summitt, who was forced into retirement in 2012 because of early onset dementia and died in 2016.

"It has been an honor to serve at my alma mater and to coach a Lady Vol program I love so dearly," Harper said. "I am grateful for the opportunity my staff and I have had to lead an amazing group of young women and to mentor them on the court as well as provide them with life skills that will benefit them far beyond the game of basketball."

The departure of a second head coach with legendary ties to Tennessee likely will inform this coaching search since neither became a long-term solution, and a loyal fan base has dealt with the uncomfortable exit of two beloved players.

Harper, a native of Sparta, Tennessee, won three national titles as a point guard at Tennessee in 1996, 1997 and 1998. As a head coach, Harper posted a record of 128-65, often against one of the toughest schedules in the country with two Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023 to mark the first time the Lady Vols had reached that milestone in six years.

Tennessee lost in 2024 to NC State, which is now in the Final Four.

The Lady Vols remain the mothership of the sport because of Summitt's lasting legacy, and an opening at Tennessee will draw a lot of interest. The question, as always, is how much will Tennessee pay? A top coach far exceeds $1 million. An elite coach is $2 million to $3 million.

"After seeking input from our student-athletes, I will begin an aggressive search process to find the next leader for our iconic women's basketball program," said White. "To protect the integrity of this process, you will not hear from me until we are ready to announce our new head coach."
Click to expand...
To be clear… there was a statement in the second paragraph from Maria, not DW, that a path forward entailed staff changes… that has now been removed.
 
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#837
#837
dazzleme said:
Unless there is another Maria and another article, it literally is NOT in the first or second paragraph or in the entire piece.

Tennessee and Kellie Harper part ways​

Tennessee releases statement of leadership change​

Maria M. CorneliusMARIA M. CORNELIUS5 hrs246

Tennessee will part ways with Kellie Harper after five seasons, and the second coaching search in program history will get underway and need to move quickly as the first spring evaluation session occurs in late April.

"Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete," Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in a release. "Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women's basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives."

In 2019, Harper replaced former Lady Vol player and coach Holly Warlick in the program's first-ever coaching search. Warlick had succeeded Pat Summitt, who was forced into retirement in 2012 because of early onset dementia and died in 2016.

"It has been an honor to serve at my alma mater and to coach a Lady Vol program I love so dearly," Harper said. "I am grateful for the opportunity my staff and I have had to lead an amazing group of young women and to mentor them on the court as well as provide them with life skills that will benefit them far beyond the game of basketball."

The departure of a second head coach with legendary ties to Tennessee likely will inform this coaching search since neither became a long-term solution, and a loyal fan base has dealt with the uncomfortable exit of two beloved players.

Harper, a native of Sparta, Tennessee, won three national titles as a point guard at Tennessee in 1996, 1997 and 1998. As a head coach, Harper posted a record of 128-65, often against one of the toughest schedules in the country with two Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023 to mark the first time the Lady Vols had reached that milestone in six years.

Tennessee lost in 2024 to NC State, which is now in the Final Four.

The Lady Vols remain the mothership of the sport because of Summitt's lasting legacy, and an opening at Tennessee will draw a lot of interest. The question, as always, is how much will Tennessee pay? A top coach far exceeds $1 million. An elite coach is $2 million to $3 million.

"After seeking input from our student-athletes, I will begin an aggressive search process to find the next leader for our iconic women's basketball program," said White. "To protect the integrity of this process, you will not hear from me until we are ready to announce our new head coach."
Click to expand...
She must’ve edited it because it was DEFINITELY this article. I asked for the same article earlier today and was provided this and remember reading it in the first or second paragraph. We would not have pulled this out our a**!
 
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#838
#838
VolBall09 said:
It’s the article by Maria Cornelius so take or leave it. She’s a Lady Vol homer/fan who has a tough time with objectivity.

Doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility and if anyone was going to have that scoop it is indeed probably her. Only one uncouth enough to ask Kellie about it today I’m sure.

Would screen shot and post here but she tends to lose her mind if you share her content on VolNation. She hates this place because she can’t rule it with an iron first and orange tinted glasses.
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It is not out of the realm of possibilities that DW’s path for her to stay was so hard for her to stomach that they came to mutual agreement.

That way he can float they jointly decided and she had options even if those options were not acceptable to her. Win for ole DW if that is the case, he wins PR.
 
#839
#839
Happy Days are here again!


Sad for the Harpers but results matter.

Now just have to brace for impact on team fallout and the loss of Finley Chastain in the future.
 
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#842
#842
Some names to think about that White might have made a move on would include coaches that just lost in the SS or EE, the timing seems right for that. I know the Oregon State coach seems locked in at his school, but they are dropping to a mid conference next year, maybe White has targeted him. Seems natural some of his better players would want to stay at the higher level and maybe move with him. I think the Gonzaga coach could be an option also, as well as the coach from Mississippi tbh, though I suspect coach Yo is not at the top of his list. She is frustrated with the support from Miss though and she would listen. Keep an eye on the Iowa State coach as well….
 
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#846
#846
UTtoDC said:
To be clear… there was a statement in the second paragraph from Maria, not DW, that a path forward entailed staff changes… that has now been removed.
Click to expand...

So either MC taking creative license with journalism as per usual. Or an actual fact that wasn’t meant to be published. We shall never know.

Odds are MC thought adding that would soften the blow and when she saw it actually further enraged people she removed it.
 
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#847
#847
glv98 said:
....I'm surprised a staff change was even offered, and I'm not surprised she wouldn't do it. Could be Kellie was just tired of all of this. This year was just incredibly brutal for her.

I just hate that this eliminates some interesting young prospects in the coaching search. We're swimming against the modern tide on this one. Odd coaching restriction to keep in place.
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You are moving without merit from a hypothesis that the (or one of the) issues was Kellie's husband to the unsubstantiated generalization that, if he were in fact the (or an issue), that would require that it was conceived and stated as a general rule and policy -- and not decided with specific respect to the present situation. It's a false generalized inference based on a single specific conjecture.

A lot of people here have faulted the assistant(s). And the arrangement. I'm not discussing that. I'm just saying that you are making a false inference in declaring that we are handicapping our program.
 
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