Coach Kellie Harper

[Knoxvol14]

LOL! Kellie defenders blaming NIL with zero knowledge. What about before NIL? Kellie is not a good head coach. The Lady VOLS and the fans deserve much better.

Some people on here actually have very intimate knowledge of NIL.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Some people on here actually have very intimate knowledge of NIL.

From 3+ years ago? Interesting wasn’t legal then.

It may have affected 2023 & 2024 classes, how about the ones before that?

 

[Volfan2012]

From 3+ years ago? Interesting wasn’t legal then.

It may have affected 2023 & 2024 classes, how about the ones before that?

This year will be more of a telling of what role NIL played in the past. This meaning that before this year it was illegal for collectives to contact high school recruits and now it is legal. Some schools were making deals anyway in the past. Some players that looked really strong to Tennessee suddenly went elsewhere and the rumor was always NIL deals. Tennessee due to legality was not making deals with high school recruits at least not in women's basketball. Now that collectives can offer high school players deals we will see this year if recruiting improves. If not it was not NIL. I know some say we don't have a beneficial NIL program in women's basketball still I think there should be money to secure one or two top players. We have been getting none. Thus far in 2025 we have one Nyla Brooks number 16 in the 2025 Hoopgurlz top 100. We need to add two more at least in that class and huge strong portal class. If we do it I can believe NIl was a problem in the past if not then it probably wasn't.

Leveling the playing field should do the same in recruiting. You don't need to get but three players a year. You should have the money to do that or you need to start over with something better.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

This year will be more of a telling of what role NIL played in the past. This meaning that before this year it was illegal for collectives to contact high school recruits and now it is legal. Some schools were making deals anyway in the past. Some players that looked really strong to Tennessee suddenly went elsewhere and the rumor was always NIL deals. Tennessee due to legality was not making deals with high school recruits at least not in women's basketball. Now that collectives can offer high school players deals we will see this year if recruiting improves. If not it was not NIL. I know some say we don't have a beneficial NIL program in women's basketball still I think there should be money to secure one or two top players. We have been getting none. Thus far in 2025 we have one Nyla Brooks number 16 in the 2025 Hoopgurlz top 100. We need to add two more at least in that class and huge strong portal class. If we do it I can believe NIl was a problem in the past if not then it probably wasn't.

Leveling the playing field should do the same in recruiting. You don't need to get but three players a year. You should have the money to do that or you need to start over with something better.

Understand all your points and AGREE but I keep hearing everyone blame the staff‘s recruiting challenges on NIL but in reality it only affected 2023 & 2024 classes.

Everything needs perspective and my point is that recruiting was not elite before 2023.

Obviously moving forward every school including UT has to continue to improve and evolve their NIL programs.

 

[Volfan2012]

Understand all your points and AGREE but I keep hearing everyone blame the staff‘s recruiting challenges on NIL but in reality it only affected 2023 & 2024 classes.

Everything needs perspective and my point is that recruiting was not elite before 2023.

Obviously moving forward every school including UT has to continue to improve and evolve their NIL programs.

Well she had to fire an Assistant after the second season so yes they failed in recruiting those first two years. I think the first two years are the hardest because of hiring a coach from a mid-major that had no strong relationships with most of the players looking at P5. Then three more seasons and not much except the portal saving the program to some extent. I agree recruiting has been the huge problem for her. If they are giving her a chance to comeback I am sure this better be the year going forward when it gets much better. It is looking somewhat better lot of interest from recruits, but that happened last year and only Kaniya Boyd signed with us. She was number 34 in that Hoopgurlz class a good player, but you needed a lot more. So many others seemed to get in the top two or three and all went to the other place.

We don't know if she is coming back the general feeling is that yes she will be back. I have to think if that is true then it has to be because of the better outlook in recruiting. Even with a great 2025 class the portal class has to be outstanding or next year doesn't look promising.

 

[PRG]

Understand all your points and AGREE but I keep hearing everyone blame the staff‘s recruiting challenges on NIL but in reality it only affected 2023 & 2024 classes.

Everything needs perspective and my point is that recruiting was not elite before 2023.

Obviously moving forward every school including UT has to continue to improve and evolve their NIL programs.

Are you talking about when Kellie got hired and had two months to recruit ?

Or the next year when Covid created no in person visits ?

Or maybe the first true year of recruiting when we got Puckett , Striplin, Wynn , I believe they were ranked in the top 15 recruiting classes ?

Are these the classes you are talking about ?

And oh by the way … Holingshead came a year later saying she was interested the year before but Covid would not let her visit ! I wonder how that might of affected our top 15 class to have added a McDonalds all American to that class ? Just saying

These are the 20, 21, 22 years you are talking about ! Just saying

And NOW WE HAVE NIL….

 

[Knoxvol14]

From 3+ years ago? Interesting wasn’t legal then.

It may have affected 2023 & 2024 classes, how about the ones before that?

That's when she was repairing damage from the holly years. Let's just see what the staff pulls off from the portal and for the 25 class

 

[Majors]

That's when she was repairing damage from the holly years. Let's just see what the staff pulls off from the portal and for the 25 class

When in doubt, blame Holly

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Are you talking about when Kellie got hired and had two months to recruit ?

Or the next year when Covid created no in person visits ?

Or maybe the first true year of recruiting when we got Puckett , Striplin, Wynn , I believe they were ranked in the top 15 recruiting classes ?

Are these the classes you are talking about ?

And oh by the way … Holingshead came a year later saying she was interested the year before but Covid would not let her visit ! I wonder how that might of affected our top 15 class to have added a McDonalds all American to that class ? Just saying

These are the 20, 21, 22 years you are talking about ! Just saying

And NOW WE HAVE NIL….

Fair points.

I’m actually neutral in this but I really believe there should be 3 LV WBB threads.

One which is 100% CKJH where everyone sees rainbows and unicorns.

One which is 100%CKJH is gotta go and should have never been hired.

One where everyone else can ask thought provoking questions and have discussions without the wrath of the people who should be on one of the first two threads.

Excellent points to my comments.

 

[37620VOL]

When in doubt, blame Holly

For that 18-19 season, yes I will kindly blame Holly. SC was down that year, she could have taken the SEC back from Staley that year but completely collapsed going 8-10 in the SEC, out in the 2nd rd of the SECT, and 1st rd of the NCAAT with a roster including Westbrook, Davis, and Meme Jackson. She wasn't coming back from that. I don't hate her, I appreciate her effort, but it was over.

And before you default to blaming Harper, her leash is extremely short and it comes down to an analysis of keeping Harper vs who can we realistically get that would be better. If we miss on this next potential hire, there's no coming back from it. We could end up in Vandy levels of futility.

 

[37620VOL]

The biggest thing I'd like to see from Harper in the next 2 months is a complete embrace of NIL in the way that Heupel and Vitello have done. Be out there advocating for more NIL opportunities, influence NIL donors, etc. Use our NCAA fight as a recruiting weapon. We, the University of TN, killed anti-competitive NIL restrictions. We will fight for our players/team and put them first.

 

[Volfan2012]

The biggest thing I'd like to see from Harper in the next 2 months is a complete embrace of NIL in the way that Heupel and Vitello have done. Be out there advocating for more NIL opportunities, influence NIL donors, etc. Use our NCAA fight as a recruiting weapon. We, the University of TN, killed anti-competitive NIL restrictions. We will fight for our players/team and put them first.

Only way to build the roster she needs going forward. The current roster just not enough the right two or three players could change that situation.

 

[Memvol44]

Well she had to fire an Assistant after the second season so yes they failed in recruiting those first two years. I think the first two years are the hardest because of hiring a coach from a mid-major that had no strong relationships with most of the players looking at P5. Then three more seasons and not much except the portal saving the program to some extent. I agree recruiting has been the huge problem for her. If they are giving her a chance to comeback I am sure this better be the year going forward when it gets much better. It is looking somewhat better lot of interest from recruits, but that happened last year and only Kaniya Boyd signed with us. She was number 34 in that Hoopgurlz class a good player, but you needed a lot more. So many others seemed to get in the top two or three and all went to the other place.

We don't know if she is coming back the general feeling is that yes she will be back. I have to think if that is true then it has to be because of the better outlook in recruiting. Even with a great 2025 class the portal class has to be outstanding or next year doesn't look promising.

Good ole Lacy..I like to travel but not recruit!

 

[Majors]

For that 18-19 season, yes I will kindly blame Holly. SC was down that year, she could have taken the SEC back from Staley that year but completely collapsed going 8-10 in the SEC, out in the 2nd rd of the SECT, and 1st rd of the NCAAT with a roster including Westbrook, Davis, and Meme Jackson. She wasn't coming back from that. I don't hate her, I appreciate her effort, but it was over.

And before you default to blaming Harper, her leash is extremely short and it comes down to an analysis of keeping Harper vs who can we realistically get that would be better. If we miss on this next potential hire, there's no coming back from it. We could end up in Vandy levels of futility.

Six seasons ago?

 

[Volfan2012]

2018–19 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is the season in which after it was over Warlick got fired.

 

[PRG]

Fair points.

I’m actually neutral in this but I really believe there should be 3 LV WBB threads.

One which is 100% CKJH where everyone sees rainbows and unicorns.

One which is 100%CKJH is gotta go and should have never been hired.

One where everyone else can ask thought provoking questions and have discussions without the wrath of the people who should be on one of the first two threads.

Excellent points to my comments.

Nothing but the fact’s mam… as Sargent Friday would’ve said ! Telling you how old I am. Many posters have a tendency to go after different negatives with only bias in their posts. Not that you are all about being negative? But recruiting tends to be the go too and rightly so …. But there are more things to consider than THIS IS HER FIFTH YEAR ! No excuses! Not that that was your stance…, but some here just want Kellie fired and they just keep on beating that dead horse over and over again! With this new NIL program and what are the rules ? Law suits , World Wide pandemics, two months to recruit your first year . I mean come on ….
I’ll get off of my soapbox and sorry if I have offended anyone…. Going back to watching the softball game. Yes … grand slam ! Way to go Taylor

 

[Terrells Bay88]

Has Kellie accomplished enough to qualified for a 10 year extension with no buyout or does every season should be treated as her last season?

 

[Volfan2012]

Has Kellie accomplished enough to qualified for a 10 year extension with no buyout or does every season should be treated as her last season?

No way a ten year extension and next year should be on her current extension. Just can't keep it going without better results.

 

[madtownvol]

Fair points.

I’m actually neutral in this but I really believe there should be 3 LV WBB threads.

One which is 100% CKJH where everyone sees rainbows and unicorns.

One which is 100%CKJH is gotta go and should have never been hired.

One where everyone else can ask thought provoking questions and have discussions without the wrath of the people who should be on one of the first two threads.

Excellent points to my comments.

Cool world you live in. But where are the people who only see rainbows and unicorns? I have been one of the more outspoken Kellie supporters on this site and I readily acknowledge that she blew it at the end of SC game, that her record against top 20 comp is not sufficient, and that her high school recruiting has been subpar. On the flipside, She has been killing it in the transfer portal, there may be some mediating factors in her HS recruiting problems that would impact any coach in her position and she has kept the team together and fighting hard through some challenges.

I can't recall any pro-Kellie poster on this site who proclaims that things could not be any better.

There is some pressure on Kellie. I think an early exit in the NCAA tournament could trigger action, But I think she will get the team past the opening weekend and get to the S16 at minimum.

If that happens, she set for next season but lacking a RIckea Jackson star and facing a more competitive SEC conference, a lot of pressure will be on her.

 

[Advol]

Cool world you live in. But where are the people who only see rainbows and unicorns? I have been one of the more outspoken Kellie supporters on this site and I readily acknowledge that she blew it at the end of SC game, that her record against top 20 comp is not sufficient, and that her high school recruiting has been subpar. On the flipside, She has been killing it in the transfer portal, there may be some mediating factors in her HS recruiting problems that would impact any coach in her position and she has kept the team together and fighting hard through some challenges.

I can't recall any pro-Kellie poster on this site who proclaims that things could not be any better.

There is some pressure on Kellie. I think an early exit in the NCAA tournament could trigger action, But I think she will get the team past the opening weekend and get to the S16 at minimum.

If that happens, she set for next season but lacking a RIckea Jackson star and facing a more competitive SEC conference, a lot of pressure will be on her.

Shouldn't a Coach making 1.1 Million (does her husband make a salary also?) have some pressure on her...............?? The pressure is a given!!

 

[madtownvol]

Shouldn't a Coach making 1.1 Million (does her husband make a salary also?) have some pressure on her...............?? The pressure is a given!!

Pressure in terms of job security, not just the general pressure facing all D1 coaches. I think that is a pretty obvious implication.

If the LVs had won the conference title and been ranked in the top ten, losing in say the 2nd round of the NCAAs would not put her job in jeopardy.
With her current record, it would.

 

[Knoxvol14]

When in doubt, blame Holly

Not blaming but it's true. You had some interesting stuff going on the last couple years of her tenure, and we were a sub 500 sec team when kellie took over.

For the record too, I don't wish any of our coaches the hard they have received from our fan base from Holly to kellie.

 

[Knoxvol14]

The biggest thing I'd like to see from Harper in the next 2 months is a complete embrace of NIL in the way that Heupel and Vitello have done. Be out there advocating for more NIL opportunities, influence NIL donors, etc. Use our NCAA fight as a recruiting weapon. We, the University of TN, killed anti-competitive NIL restrictions. We will fight for our players/team and put them first.

She does advocate but she doesn't have the power of Spyre/Vol Club behind her which us run by individuals with a business and sports agent background. It makes a huge difference to have that engine behind you that has a staff and big time connections with people with money

 

[Lucy]

She does advocate but she doesn't have the power of Spyre/Vol Club behind her which us run by individuals with a business and sports agent background. It makes a huge difference to have that engine behind you that has a staff and big time connections with people with money

I wonder how our NIL situation would be if we had maintained separate athletic departments.
Joan Cronan focused 100% of the time on the women’s teams and seemed to have very good relationships wit wealthy donors.
You have to wonder if someone shows up with an offer of a big check does DW suggest LVs NIL or improvements to Neyland.

 

[Majors]

I wonder how our NIL situation would be if we had maintained separate athletic departments.
Joan Cronin focused 100% of the time on the women’s teams and seemed to have very good relationships wit wealthy donors.
You have to wonder if someone shows up with an offer of a big check does DW suggest LVs NIL or improvements to Neyland.

Neyland is in the process of 300M+ in renovations. Seasonal fan are we?