Coach Kellie Harper fired

When did the men’s team arrive back from Detroit?
They got back Sunday evening, there was a crowd to greet them when they got off the buses at Pratt.

Please don't make Lucy's head explode. DW had plenty of time after a Sunday afternoon game to get back to Knoxville for a Monday meeting.

Interesting that KJH and staff were blindsided. Wonder if she and DW had any conversation the last couple of weeks.
 
I did not say DW used the term home run at all. Please don’t misquote me. I am also not trying to fire the next coach before they are hired.
My point was the rabble that took such glee in watching a really great person get screwed by her alma mater boasted continuously that DW would make a home run hire. That we would back up the brinks truck at Dawn’s house, that our program would attract coaches who could just snap their fingers and get us to a ff. The cold, hard reality is staring to set in that none of the top 5 or so coaches are coming and that probably the next tier (like a Niel Ivey) aren’t coming here either which leaves us with coaches that, as I researched their record, are pretty much where Kellie was.
So now the goal post moving is starting with well it’s okay we lost two great recruits because it will take you know two or three years blah, blah, blah. Don’t talk all big while dancing on Kellie’s grave and then start backing off about how many coach’s are so superior to Kellie and how easy it will be to get a coach to bring their recruiting class, far superior of course to the horrible players we have. Great kids btw who are great players, students etc who undoubtedly are devastated with this firing. But hey let’s trash Kellie’s recruiting which is trashing our players. I would not blame them if they all left if they lost their beloved coach and then got to hear what horrible recruits they are.
So yes, with all of that I am pointing out a few realities that are dampening the gross party atmosphere on here.
It is unprofessional and disingenuous that you will not disclose your relationship with UTs athletic department.
12-37 isn’t getting screwed by her Alma mater. All she had to do was be better than Holly.
 
They got back Sunday evening, there was a crowd to greet them when they got off the buses at Pratt.

Please don't make Lucy's head explode. DW had plenty of time after a Sunday afternoon game to get back to Knoxville for a Monday meeting.

Interesting that KJH and staff were blindsided. Wonder if she and DW had any conversation the last couple of weeks.
Yeah, I just saw the pics, and I could have sworn I heard they came back Sunday to a bunch of fans, but it has been a wild few days.
 
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All that I can gather from your AD tells me he is a consummate pro and therefore went into this with knowledge and options, those types like him always have several plans in place and have done their due diligence way before making a huge decision like this. He understands the importance of the situation better than all of us on fan forums. And he didn’t get where he is by doing stuff from the seat of his pants. He will deliver a good result for LV fans, the question is if the fans will initially agree. Based upon my many years on this site watching UT fan reactions to all things sports related (one of the most passionate fan bases in America obviously) I understand he realizes the huge importance related to this decision. He has a great track record and therefore I am confident he will come through with the proper hire, even if some don’t agree initially.
 
They got back Sunday evening, there was a crowd to greet them when they got off the buses at Pratt.

Please don't make Lucy's head explode. DW had plenty of time after a Sunday afternoon game to get back to Knoxville for a Monday meeting.

Interesting that KJH and staff were blindsided. Wonder if she and DW had any conversation the last couple of weeks.

I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
 
I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
I'm going to disagree that DW wasn't always paying attention. Bet he was. And if there was zero conversation after 1.1, that should have told KJH all was not well.

Re the coming announcement, IMO if it's home run then he had a plan and it worked, if its Mollyesque then he had a plan but no one better took the bait.
 
I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
Mad, I am personally convinced (imo only), that had Cardoso missed that 3 things may be different today, but I emphasize the word may. I believe guys like White don’t get blindsided, those types are always watching and planning. I believe Coach Harper was on his radar before that unlike you, but there is little doubt that moment swayed events.
 
I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
My top 3 are Lindsey Gottlieb, Cori Close and Becky Hammon.
 
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Mad, I am personally convinced (imo only), that had Cardoso missed that 3 things may be different today, but I emphasize the word may. I believe guys like White don’t get blindsided, those types are always watching and planning. I believe Coach Harper was on his radar before that unlike you, but there is little doubt that moment swayed events.

You're probably right but I am going pitch my new streaming series anyway--- CSI: Kellie Harper Investigation
 
Okay, MMC may not be the most reliable source but her most recent story has a detail that i think she probably has reported accurately:



I originally thought the Cora Hall buyout story was the signal of an imminent coaching change but then Jewel's announcement seemed to signal the opposite. But, now we know.

Everyday that goes by makes it a little trickier for the next coach to have a competitive roster next season.

I absolutely do not buy that they were blindsided. There were clues all season long they were not on the same page.

I believe I said this elsewhere but if they were blindsided that is just more of an indication change was required imo. It means they were living in a vacuum and were totally disconnected from the athletics department as a whole.

She was fired without cause so they do not have to give her a reason, but I would be shocked if there were not discussions and goals set prior to her being let go.

And again, based on her emotion toward the end of the season it truly seemed like she was aware she may be coaching for her job.

I thought it was irresponsible to be holding visits on Monday because everyone in their right mind knew something was up. Pretending it’s not doesn’t change that.

I said over the weekend that other Harpers would be fired Monday or we would land a big transfers. Didn’t need a crystal ball to predict that because the silence from the AD after their loss was DEAFENING.
 
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Mad, I am personally convinced (imo only), that had Cardoso missed that 3 things may be different today, but I emphasize the word may. I believe guys like White don’t get blindsided, those types are always watching and planning. I believe Coach Harper was on his radar before that unlike you, but there is little doubt that moment swayed events.
Or had the double dribble been called. But really, if her margin for error was that thin, and if NIL money was never going to flow for KJH then that moment was just the catalyst and it was going to eventually happen. Didn't think I'd say this at the beginning of the week, but better now than one more bad year.

I just really hate it for kids like Puckett, Strip, Wynn and Darby who've fought the good fight together all these years. They must be reeling.
 
Or had the double dribble been called. But really, if her margin for error was that thin, and if NIL money was never going to flow for KJH then that moment was just the catalyst and it was going to eventually happen. Didn't think I'd say this at the beginning of the week, but better now than one more bad year.

I just really hate it for kids like Puckett, Strip, Wynn and Darby who've fought the good fight together all these years. They must be reeling.
Well if they are as good as people on here say they are, the new coach will want them.
 
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I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
I doubt he had any meetings in the last few weeks so as not to be a distraction during tournament time. I have to think they’ve had discussions about the program though.

He didn’t look too pleased in the Ohio State game but who would have. I have to believe the MTSU game got his attention though. He probably saw the team playing better towards the end of the season and then the SC 1.1 game happened. He probably had an idea in his mind of what the goal was that needed ti be reach.
 
As for Hammon, as I posted before, I believe she was born in Tennessee. I also believe she would be a splash hire, if White could pull it off. I think this would make sense on many fronts and if White were to pull in a hire of this caliber it accelerates the timeline for LV‘s phoenix back.
 
I bet he didn't. I think it was S16 or bust for Kellie. I am not convinced that White had an eagle eye on the program up until recently. I am coming around to your way of thinking that all the negative buzz around the "1.1 seconds that shall live in infamy," caught his attention. Kellie then had to beat the odds in the NCAA tournament to overcome that tragic moment.

The eventual announcement will tell the story - if its Dawn Staley or Lindsay Gottlieb, White had a plan of action and strategic foresight. If its Molly Miller, no comment......
.
I was told that she was gone after this season back in January by someone I trust on LV matters, barring an absolute miracle run in the tournament. If she was blindsided and that's not just a narrative they wanted to run, she had her head deeply in the sand. The loss to MTSU was a back breaker that was going to be hard to recover from and in the end, she didn't.

In addition to NIL issues, parents also had feedback that a lot of her focus was just on Pat and Tennessee basketball history, during visits, which isn't as impactful to people who aren't pre-built Lady Vol fans and people who are in high school currently.
 
I doubt he had any meetings in the last few weeks so as not to be a distraction during tournament time. I have to think they’ve had discussions about the program though.

He didn’t look too pleased in the Ohio State game but who would have. I have to believe the MTSU game got his attention though. He probably saw the team playing better towards the end of the season and then the SC 1.1 game happened. He probably had an idea in his mind of what the goal was that needed ti be reach.

Yep, it’s entirely possible they had a meeting before post season that might have been more positive sounding to the coaching staff. The team played well even if they incurred losses to SC and LSU.

That game in the tourney was just an inexcusable coaching error. Even former Lady Vols who usually hold their tongue could not understand why we had nobody on the ball. 😬😬
 
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As for Hammon, as I posted before, I believe she was born in Tennessee. I also believe she would be a splash hire, if White could pull it off. I think this would make sense on many fronts and if White were to pull in a hire of this caliber it accelerates the timeline for LV‘s phoenix back.
I’m also remembering that Becky Hammon works alongside former LV Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas. I wonder if she and Candace are in Becky’s ear.
 
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As for Hammon, as I posted before, I believe she was born in Tennessee. I also believe she would be a splash hire, if White could pull it off. I think this would make sense on many fronts and if White were to pull in a hire of this caliber it accelerates the timeline for LV‘s phoenix back.

Hammon was born and raised in Rapid City, SD.

She was a phenom at Colorado State when I was a kid growing up in Colorado. The Becky madness was crazy, people were driving hours to watch her play.
 

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