Coach Kellie Harper fired

[JohnnyPayne]

REALLY? So when did Kelly win the Conference?

Kelly nor Kellie did. But if that’s the requirement, then he/she better win the SEC at minimum.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Coming soon to a mid-major near you. I think we’ve seen what happens when you have to fire your friends. It is even worse to fire your husband.

I never liked that arrangement; same as the Lady Vol Softball coaching team. So IF Kelly had the option, SHE chose HIM over UT. Goodbye.

 

[livefaith]

No more VFL’s please.

Two huge mistakes. And that was what both were based on. Hated both decisions at the time. Hopefully our awesome AD tells the sentimental idiots still around to "go pound sand bc we're gonna hire the absolute best, period"!

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

How many up and comer coaches has Danny hired.

Hired some guy named Nate Oats to coach Buffalo.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Kelly nor Kellie did. But if that’s the requirement, then he/she better win the SEC at minimum.

So Kelly couldn't win the sec in 5 years, but you say the new coach better win it in His/Her First year? OK then. Ponder that a minute.

 

[livefaith]

I think White will go outside of the Summitt tree. It’s time to do just that.

If that's where the BEST is then by all means. But, why limit it. Just get the best , period. Making any sort of marketing to the fans hire is not the right decision compared to getting the absolute best available.

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

I never liked that arrangement; same as the Lady Vol Softball coaching team. So IF Kelly had the option, SHE chose HIM over UT. Goodbye.

It’s a high risk, low reward path. You want assistants to provide new ideas and move on. Then you bring in new, hungry assistants to replace them. This wife/husband duo is what happens at lower levels. Not in the cutthroat SEC.

 

[Vol_guy]

Carla Berube

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

So Kelly couldn't win the sec in 5 years, but you say the new coach better win it in His/Her First year? OK then. Ponder that a minute.

Agreed. We have 2 of the top 5 programs in the country leading the SEC. But we have to contend, and we aren’t close.

 

[Vols2015]

Awaiting the halftime hosts of the current game talking about Kellie.

 

[JohnnyPayne]

So Kelly couldn't win the sec in 5 years, but you say the new coach better win it in His/Her First year? OK then. Ponder that a minute.

The statement was sarcastically made because we (the board) are saying that’s the standard as well as final fours.

I totally disagree. I think we should be competitive. And should be striving for improvement within the SEC and nationally. Sports eb and flow and South Carolina is the standard right now. I just don’t feel like the LVs should be penalized that we used to be the standard in the 90s and now we’re not.

We’re going to be revisiting this in 3-6 years if we maintain the fan standard that KJH has been judged by.

 

[livefaith]

I disagree. I think it’s a huge hire.

No. Not even in the same zip code as football.

 

[Tnphil]

So you’re saying that South Carolina, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida, Auburn, and Kentucky would have fired their coach for finishing 4th, winning 20 games, and going to the NCAA Tournament?

Condolences to the coaches at Missouri, Vandy, Mississippi state, Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida, Auburn, and Kentucky…

Danny White does not settle for mediocrity....UT is the women's standard and he gets paid to do what he can to get it back where it belongs...12-37 against ranked teams was not getting it done. Anyone that knows the business of the game knew her days were numbered...Those that don't know the business are just fans of the coach and not the program.

 

[livefaith]

Y’all are misinterpreting the announcement from Tennessee Athletics. “ It says AFTER seeking input from our student-athletes, we WILL begin an aggressive search.

You really don't think they care if this is technically true do you?

 

[JohnWardForever]

The statement was sarcastically made because we (the board) are saying that’s the standard as well as final fours.

I totally disagree. I think we should be competitive. And should be striving for improvement within the SEC and nationally. Sports eb and flow and South Carolina is the standard right now. I just don’t feel like the LVs should be penalized that we used to be the standard in the 90s and now we’re not.

We’re going to be revisiting this in 3-6 years if we maintain the fan standard that KJH has been judged by.

I think more than Kelly's record it was her apparent lost moments during games, when She seemed totally oblivious as to strategy.

 

[JohnWardForever]

You really don't think they care if this is technically true do you?

AD WHITE will talk to the team; then hire who HE has already spoken to and likely agreed in principle with.........

 

[JohnnyPayne]

Danny White does not settle for mediocrity....UT is the women's standard and he gets paid to do what he can to get it back where it belongs...12-37 against ranked teams was not getting it done. Anyone that knows the business of the game knew her days were numbered...Those that don't know the business are just fans of the coach and not the program.

4th of 14 was her worst season. I may be slow, but what is the cutoff between great, good, average (mediocre), below average, and poor.

 

[AthensVol2007]

5 years for a Final Four or a natty?

I’ll be honest I think TN may be done.

Mulkey won in year 5 at a school with 0 women’s basketball support prior to her arrival. She won in year 2 at LSU taking over a program with equal to less recent success than what KJH inherited and is leaving behind. Walz took a nobody to a NCG in year 2. What was MS St before Vic? He was playing for a title in year 5. It’s not unheard of and not remotely far fetched to expect that at a school with the tradition, support, facilities etc of UT.

 

[Rooster1]

I think more than Kelly's record it was her apparent lost moments during games, when She seemed totally oblivious as to strategy.

It was likely the SECT loss that sealed it with White, that game was won. Bad ref call at end? Yep, Missed free throws at end? Yep. But nobody guarding the inbounder or receiving player with 1.1 seconds left?

 

[Proud Army Wife]

Appears that was never based in fact and she has subversively retracted it on X. In her own way lol.

Sorry for running with that, but when it’s in what’s supposed to be a legit news source it’s tough. I mean it’s a paid site and everything.

Too bad I got locked on X today lol. I’m missing all the news.

 

[AthensVol2007]

When you say the schedule got easier, are you considering that we had the #1 SCHEDULE IN THE COUNTRY this season?

Again, we are trying to be the best. We came up short and finished 4th of 14. Which SEC school would fire their coach for finishing 4th?

One that wants to finish in the top 4 NATIONALLY, not their conference. Are you really this immune to mediocrity that finishing top 4 in your conference is acceptable given the program is 2nd all time in national titles? Way to lower the bar of success.

 

[glv98]

It was likely the SECT loss that sealed it with White, that game was won. Bad ref call at end? Yep, Missed free throws at end? Yep. But nobody guarding the inbounder or receiving player with 1.1 seconds left?

Said earlier, I think that did it. Probably could have saved it w a second round win. But I think that image, the dropped head and anguish, just became an image of failure she couldn't escape. Really unfortunate for her.

 

[JohnWardForever]

It was likely the SECT loss that sealed it with White, that game was won. Bad ref call at end? Yep, Missed free throws at end? Yep. But nobody guarding the inbounder or receiving player with 1.1 seconds left?

Yep, lost & oblivious.

 

[glv98]

Yep, lost & oblivious.

That;s just not true. She knew exactly what she was doing.We watched her set it up. It was just a disastorous strategy. And she paid the ultimate price for it.

 

[JohnnyPayne]

One that wants to finish in the top 4 NATIONALLY, not their conference. Are you really this immune to mediocrity that finishing top 4 in your conference is acceptable given the program is 2nd all time in national titles? Way to lower the bar of success.

What about LA Tech who is 5th NATIONALLY in national championships finishing below .500. Again, I’m not arguing for them or any other school. I’m just saying, let’s be reasonable and realistic and figure out how to get there. Firing out our coach who has finished 4 seasons of 3rd and one season 4th…. seems as if we live in fantasy land (aka 1990s). This is going to be an easy revisit in 2026.