Coach Kellie Harper

[DarkPhoenix]

I’ll give them credit, they care about restoring that program. KY went 12-19, and 12-20 the last two years and just pulled a coach who:

“Brooks built the Hokies into a champion brand, guiding the program to its first ACC tournament title in 2023 and first ACC regular-season championship in 2024. While in Blacksburg, Brooks compiled a 180-82 overall record, which includes a school-record 31 wins in 2022-23 that culminated in the program's first-ever Final Four appearance.

In his eight seasons at the helm of the Hokies, Brooks produced at least 20 wins seven times while steering Tech to the NCAA tournament four straight seasons (2021-2024).”

I don’t know his history but what did he do in his 1st 5 years? So we can compare to Kelly.

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

You guys would have fired him after taking FIVE seasons to get to the NCAA tournament at Virginia Tech, which coincidentally, happened at the same time that he signed Elizabeth Kitley. It will be interesting to see how good a coach he is without her. Other than making the Final four last year, his teams at Virginia Tech and James Madison never advanced past the second round, including this season.

Kellie has 4 20-win seasons in five years at Tennessee and made the Sweet Sixteen twice at Tennessee and once at Missouri State and made the NCAA tournament all 4 seasons at Tennessee.

I’ll give them credit, they care about restoring that program. KY went 12-19, and 12-20 the last two years and just pulled a coach who:

“Brooks built the Hokies into a champion brand, guiding the program to its first ACC tournament title in 2023 and first ACC regular-season championship in 2024. While in Blacksburg, Brooks compiled a 180-82 overall record, which includes a school-record 31 wins in 2022-23 that culminated in the program's first-ever Final Four appearance.

In his eight seasons at the helm of the Hokies, Brooks produced at least 20 wins seven times while steering Tech to the NCAA tournament four straight seasons (2021-2024).”

 

[Voltopia]

My swing for the fences type of hire

1. Dawn Staley. I think the article this year about pay her $5 million and watch her restore the program had some legit reasons why she could be interested.

2. Becky Hammond- makes $1million a year with the Las Vegas aces. Does she want to leave the WBNA? We could triple her salary and see.

Would immediately elevate the program above where it is today:

1. Lindsay Gottlieb
2. Cori Close
3. Nikki Collen
4. Jeff Walz
5. Lisa Fortier
6. Rick Insell
7. Yolett McPhee-McCuin
8. Teri Moren

Who could replicate her current success but probably be fired in 5 years too:

1. Bill Fennelly
2 Kara Lawson
3-35. Any sitting P5 coach at a school currently in the big dance.

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I can't take the Dawn Staley for 5 million thing seriously. Nor do I see any scenario where Tennessee opts to spend 3+ million dollars on a women's basketball coach. I understand how important it is to a lot of people on here, but these programs don't bring in the revenue to pay for 3 million dollar coaches - not unless they're top shelf, "Final Four every other year" kind of programs. And even then, it's a very short list. I could see a coach winning 30 games a year for six or seven years, and working their way up to a 2.5-3.0 milliond dollar contract. If they've proven themselves, proven that their success wasn't due to a player but due to the program. But that's never going to be the case with a new hire, short of 2-3 names. Which brings us back to the start - I don't think Tennessee gonna pay that much anyway.

Gottlieb's interesting but I'd be nervous about whether I was hiring a great coach or the coach who recruited Juju Watkins and her 27 PPG. Maybe it's the same thing. I don't know. Close feels a little more proven. Just never had tha breakthrough year, or maybe the breakthrough player? Again, maybe it's the same thing. I wonder how many of these coaches "break through" once they get the right horses. As I've often pounded the "parity is still a myth in this game" drum, it would fit my suspicions, but they're only suspicions.

I also wonder what it would take to get either coach out of that nice California weather. Which is very nice.

But can we drop Insell already? He's 72. It's not a good idea. I guess it's because of the familiarity or proximity, but it's better left as is.

 

[Volstylexx]

I don’t know his history but what did he do in his 1st 5 years? So we can compare to Kelly.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Caleb Calhoun:

“I think we’re going to see an announcement before Friday that she is gone”

The quicker the better for Portal reasons , hopefully Danny has already been looking and has a finalist list to make a quick hire.

 

[Orange_Mamba]

Does Amoore follow Brooks or does she also head to LSU

 

[SGMVols]

You guys would have fired him after taking FIVE seasons to get to the NCAA tournament at Virginia Tech, which coincidentally, happened at the same time that he signed Elizabeth Kitley. It will be interesting to see how good a coach he is without her.

We’ve given Kellie FIVE years already, dude.

Kenny Brooks will win more games in Year 1 at Kentucky than Kellie will in Year 6 here. Book it. They’ll beat us too.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

My swing for the fences type of hire

1. Dawn Staley. I think the article this year about pay her $5 million and watch her restore the program had some legit reasons why she could be interested.

2. Becky Hammond- makes $1million a year with the Las Vegas aces. Does she want to leave the WBNA? We could triple her salary and see.

Would immediately elevate the program above where it is today:

1. Lindsay Gottlieb
2. Cori Close
3. Nikki Collen
4. Jeff Walz
5. Lisa Fortier
6. Rick Insell
7. Yolett McPhee-McCuin
8. Teri Moren

Who could replicate her current success but probably be fired in 5 years too:

1. Bill Fennelly
2 Kara Lawson
3-35. Any sitting P5 coach at a school currently in the big dance.

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Why would Kara LAwson get fired in 5 years ? Lol She can actually RECRUIT lol see Toby Fournier , Sarah Strong , Richardson , Donavan lol these are All americans and her team is still dancing to the sweet 16 in year 3 she's turned that duke program around ENTIRELY.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Does Amoore follow Brooks or does she also head to LSU

I think she will follow Brooks, her and Kitley speak so highly of him.

 

[VolBall09]

You guys would have fired him after taking FIVE seasons to get to the NCAA tournament at Virginia Tech, which coincidentally, happened at the same time that he signed Elizabeth Kitley. It will be interesting to see how good a coach he is without her. Other than making the Final four last year, his teams at Virginia Tech and James Madison never advanced past the second round, including this season.

Right but he was building a program at Virginia Tech not Tennessee.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

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So u would want him fired with only one NCAA Tournament appearance in his 1st 5 seasons.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Edit: just pulled up their Twitter. That’s crazy. And people don’t think TN can do better?! SMH. That’s a program changing hire for KY

Boom Kentucky making bigger and better moves than Tennessee what in Pat summits name is going tf on LOL

 

[Tnphil]

We’ve given Kellie FIVE years already, dude.

Kenny Brooks will win more games in Year 1 at Kentucky than Kellie will in Year 6 here. Book it. They’ll beat us too.

How can anyone honestly defend 12-37 against ranked teams in 5 years? There is no legit excuse to defend that from the coach....Zero.

 

[Volstylexx]

You guys would have fired him after taking FIVE seasons to get to the NCAA tournament at Virginia Tech, which coincidentally, happened at the same time that he signed Elizabeth Kitley. It will be interesting to see how good a coach he is without her.

Look at their prior job right before they took over at Va. Tech and TN and tell me which one you think (on paper) was the better hire at the time? One of the hires went on to make a Final 4, and then back it up with a conference title the next year. The other has never finished higher than 3rd in the conference and never advanced past the S16. It's almost like... wait for it, prior success is a good indicator of future success!

 

[spojo13]

So u would want him fired with only one NCAA Tournament appearance in his 1st 5 seasons.

Honest question, do you feel VA Tech was at the same place as a program that Tennessee was when hiring Kellie? I know Holly had brought us down quite a bit, but were we as a brand, university support, and players at the same level as VA Tech?

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Does Amoore follow Brooks or does she also head to LSU

Or does she declare for the WNBA ?

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Right but he was building a program at Virginia Tech not Tennessee.

Big difference in history and prestige smh comparing VT to Tennessee standards ARE NOT THE SAME

 

[Volstylexx]

Does Amoore follow Brooks or does she also head to LSU

If Ky's newly minted NIL collective throws some money her way, I'd say she goes to KY.

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

<delete>

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Look at their prior job right before they took over at Va. Tech and TN and tell me which one you think (on paper) was the better hire at the time? One of the hires went on to make a Final 4, and then back it up with a conference title the next year. The other has never finished higher than 3rd in the conference and never advanced past the S16. It's almost like... wait for it, prior success is a good indicator of future success!
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Trick question…Lol not gonna fall for it.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Folks comparing Kenny to Kellie are the same ones wishing Kellie 1 more year , you guys are delusional first 5 years at VT versus First 5 at UT ? These are two totally different schools with WAY DIFF pedigrees , Tennessee has 8 championships VT has 0 . The expectations are different so lets stop it Kellie needs to go period .

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

Unless Kentucky opens up the NIL vault for hm, he'll be a very MEH coach. One Final Four in 21 seasons and not making the tournament more often than making it IS NOT a great hire.

We’ve given Kellie FIVE years already, dude.

Kenny Brooks will win more games in Year 1 at Kentucky than Kellie will in Year 6 here. Book it. They’ll beat us too.

 

[Volstylexx]

Right but he was building a program at Virginia Tech not Tennessee.

Big difference in history and prestige smh comparing VT to Tennessee standards ARE NOT THE SAME

Both true statements. You can extrapolate out from his coaching record, that the job he would have done at TN would have been equal (at a minimum) to what he did at Tech. He probably would have done it much sooner than at Tech given the increased resources, brand, etc of the Lady Vols.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Unless Kentucky opens up the NIL vault for hm, he'll be a very MEH coach. One Final Four in 21 seasons and not making the tournament more often than not IS NOT a great hire.

Its better than what we have right now .

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

Yet Kellie has been more successful at UT in her first 5 seasons than he was in his first 5 at VT. Looks like a better hire to me.

Look at their prior job right before they took over at Va. Tech and TN and tell me which one you think (on paper) was the better hire at the time? One of the hires went on to make a Final 4, and then back it up with a conference title the next year. The other has never finished higher than 3rd in the conference and never advanced past the S16. It's almost like... wait for it, prior success is a good indicator of future success!
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