Coach Kellie Harper

[Ratvol]

Would be very shocked by this. I don’t see White going that direction at all. Way too many question marks about someone who hasn’t coached in 5 years.

He would be completely out of recruiting at any level at this point and if we fire Harper that’s probably the #1 priority for the new coach. Has to be someone who can immediately attract or bring talent with them.

Mitchell can do neither, and really isn’t an upgrade over Kellie. Never liked his teams much as he too was always heavily reliant on one player. Much prefer teams with balance like Oregon State.

I agree.. I just posted that to show his past accomplishments... I really like Wes Moore but I doubt he will come here. either way, I feel very confident that DW will take care of the LV name and do what needs to be done whether that is to replace or retain Kellie...
I loved Kellie as a player but not so much as a head coach.

 

[glv98]

Yes. And no 3 second count......dude lived in the lane

That's the part that got me, even more than the foul disparity. The 3 sec lane was widened bc one massive player, George Miken, was camping out under the rim and making the game boring. The goaltending rule was also instituted bc of him. It's long been recognized that simply having the biggest player in the universe and lobbing to him was not an interesting game.

For the life of me, espec in light of the reffing controversy around Edey, I can't fathom why they won't control it simply by enforcing the 3 sec rule! So much easier than parsing fouls amongst the giants. Count to three and enforce it every trip down and soon the situation will control itself.

To drag back to topic, I'll bet KJH badge has already worked to get her into her office this morning. IMO Jewel's announcement ends all speculation.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

That's the part that got me, even more than the foul disparity. The 3 sec lane was widened bc one massive player, George Miken, was camping out under the rim and making the game boring. The goaltending rule was also instituted bc of him. It's long been recognized that simply having the biggest player in the universe and lobbing to him was not an interesting game.

For the life of me, espec in light of the reffing controversy around Edey, I can't fathom why they won't control it simply by enforcing the 3 sec rule! So much easier than parsing fouls amongst the giants. Count to three and enforce it every trip down and soon the situation will control itself.

To drag back to topic, I'll bet KJH badge has already worked to get her into her office this morning. IMO Jewel's announcement ends all speculation.

Again not on either side but can you please explain what the Jewel announcement has to do with CKJH?

If DW is going to tell CKJH to hit the road he would not have told Jewel anything either way so what does your last statement even mean?

 

[glv98]

Again not on either side but can you please explain what the Jewel announcement has to do with CKJH?

If DW is going to tell CKJH to hit the road he would not have told Jewel anything either way so what does your last statement even mean?

Just that I doubt Jewel makes that commitment right now if she was in anyway unsure who the coach was going to be, Pretty sure the players have a good feel for what is going on.

I could be wrong about that of course.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

They are invested in the program and that’s a positive. Part of the problem to me is the other posters that constantly praise and speak as if any and every prospect that did not sign or commit to Tennessee is so called “what we could not pay for or afford due to NIL.” Man Kaniya Boyd is ranked higher than some of the players these same people push for Tennessee to give away money to. Also, as a basketball player she has talent. I do not care if a player is ranked 3 or 33 if they can play. Audi Crooks, Milaysia Fulwiley, Cotie McMahon, and Flaujae Johnson to name a handful were not Top 10 prospects out of HS.
At this point, I am just waiting on the next excuse when Tennessee does start to sign multiple HS prospects.

Funny thing is, UT supposedly has the best Football NIL on market but on football threads every recruit lost is because NIL isn’t good enough according some Posters.

Players go to school for a lot of reasons and some at the end of the day want to play for the school they have pulled for most of their life. This is why the longer you have not been near the top of the mountain, the harder it becomes to get back to top.

 

[VolBall09]

Probably posted already but if this isn’t evidence White isn’t happy with the direction of the women’s program idk what is. Two tweets, both very complimentary of the coach and program.

Still not a peep on the women’s side. So if not this year then it’s next for Harper unless she pulls some crazy uno reverse and has a stellar season. Just don’t think White likes the way she coaches or the product she puts on the floor. He looked disgusted during the Ohio State blowout at home.

NOW, where did I put that tinfoil hat????

 

[VolBall09]

Again not on either side but can you please explain what the Jewel announcement has to do with CKJH?

If DW is going to tell CKJH to hit the road he would not have told Jewel anything either way so what does your last statement even mean?

I don’t think it has anything to do with Harper at all. If she is relieved of her duties any player staying still has the right to enter the portal. So nothing wrong with saying you’re coming back and then waiting to see what happens with the coaching situation.

The players aren’t dumb either, they know this season wasn’t what anyone wanted it to be. I’m also sure they have a better idea of how committed the athletics department is to making a really quality hire if Harper is released.

 

[glv98]

I don’t think it has anything to do with Harper at all. If she is relieve of her duties any player staying still has the right to enter the portal. So nothing wrong with saying you’re coming back and then waiting to see what happens with the coaching situation.

The players aren’t dumb either, they know this season wasn’t what anyone wanted it to be. I’m also sure they have a better idea of how committed the athletics department is to making a really quality hire if Harper is released.

Agree to disagree. This feels like once again you guys are avoiding the obvious and twisting yourself into pretzels to believe the alternative. Yes the players have a better idea what's going on so Jewel was confident to make her decision public now. BC KJH is not going to be fired. I know it's boring, but Occams razor is a thing.

I'm curious, if KJH survives the day, do the tin foil hats come off or is there yet another deadline? Pretty sure those goalposts can be moved infinitely; QANON has changed their 'save the date' for the end of the world about 50 times.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Probably posted already but if this isn’t evidence White isn’t happy with the direction of the women’s program idk what is. Two tweets, both very complimentary of the coach and program.

Still not a peep on the women’s side. So if not this year then it’s next for Harper unless she pulls some crazy uno reverse and has a stellar season. Just don’t think White likes the way she coaches or the product she puts on the floor. He looked disgusted during the Ohio State blowout at home.

NOW, where did I put that tinfoil hat????

Whether she is let go this week or not, the silent message is a very loud, ”I, DW am not Happy”

 

[Majors]

Whether she is let go this week or not, the silent message is a very loud, ”I, DW am not Happy”

He didn’t mind acknowledging the men yesterday.

 

[VolBall09]

Whether she is let go this week or not, the silent message is a very loud, ”I, DW am not Happy”

Yeah he’s made it abundantly clear IMO that he does not like the direction Lady Vol basketball is going.

I’d really like to see him pull the plug this season as I see no reason to delay the inevitable. Rip off the bandaid and go from there.

His silence on the ladies program has been very loud this season. He did finally make one post during the NCAAs which is now covered in comments to “fire Kellie.” Only other post even related to WBB was thanking the Harper’s for their donation which, to me, still feels like a “please don’t fire me” donation.

 

[madtownvol]

Agree to disagree. This feels like once again you guys are avoiding the obvious and twisting yourself into pretzels to believe the alternative. Yes the players have a better idea what's going on so Jewel was confident to make her decision public now. BC KJH is not going to be fired. I know it's boring, but Occams razor is a thing.

I'm curious, if KJH survives the day, do the tin foil hats come off or is there yet another deadline? Pretty sure those goalposts can be moved infinitely; QANON has changed their 'save the date' for the end of the world about 50 times.

Mayday comrade. White likes to dance around flag poles when making new hires.

 

[House|RockyTop]

Funny thing is, UT supposedly has the best Football NIL on market but on football threads every recruit lost is because NIL isn’t good enough according some Posters.

Players go to school for a lot of reasons and some at the end of the day want to play for the school they have pulled for most of their life. This is why the longer you have not been near the top of the mountain, the harder it becomes to get back to top.

I agree 1000%. Tennessee athletic administration is going to manage this situation as best as any in collegiate sports. They are top tier and building the brand of Tennessee athletics. I’m now licensed in the education and coaching administration field. I see it firsthand. I believe a select few posters on both sides are definitively on track with the evaluation of the women’s basketball program. No decision will be an easy decision. There has to be accountability. Leadership at the top is not looking for talk about building a culture and referencing a prestigious tradition at every turn, they are focused on high achievement and consistency. They are looking at the current track record. What does it say?

 

[spojo13]

I do wish the discussion around this topic was a bit more civil, and the rhetoric was toned down. I know at one point there was a rule not to attack other posters for the board, but I no longer see those rules pinned. There’s no reason to call others idiots or tell them that you hate them or others are conspiracy theorists bc they offer a different opinion. This is a message board where EVERYONE obviously cares about the program; some just see different ways to go forward. I’ve always been a big believer that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

 

[VolBall09]

I do wish the discussion around this topic was a bit more civil, and the rhetoric was toned down. I know at one point there was a rule not to attack other posters for the board, but I no longer see those rules pinned. There’s no reason to call others idiots or tell them that you hate them or others are conspiracy theorists bc they offer a different opinion. This is a message board where EVERYONE obviously cares about the program; some just see different ways to go forward. I’ve always been a big believer that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

The internet can be tough. I have a very laid back, direct, funny, sarcastic personality IRL and have almost 0 conflict in my life. On here…

 

[Amb3096]

The question is who would the LVs hire whose record does not pale in comparison to Dawn, Geno, Tara, Vic, and Kim? When you look at the names floated, almost all have weaker resumes than Kellie. Coaches wanting to displace those titans have sell the idea that can do more to help the player develop (both as player as person) -- which seemed to be the Kellie_Rickea connection--and that we can collectively really put this program on the map (also Clark and Iowa) or get it back to the top (the tenneessee narrative0>

If you have to make the sell on culture and potential AND you are hamstrung on NIL, any likely LV coach would lose more than they win on the recruiting front. Her problem is not that she loses them all, she does not win enough because recruiting is a number game. Pissott not working out was a blow (on multiple dimensions). If Kellie had three top ten ranked HS recruits in that class, we would be celebrating the 2 who worked out.

That's why I'm not actively calling for her head. But my feeling is that she's reached her ceiling as a coach, and it's just a matter of time before she's fired. If you keep her, you just continue to get mired in mediocrity; might be worth shaking things ups.

Regarding your other post outlining scenarios recruits may consider, I think the think you are incorrectly assuming is that school A and school B are equivalent, with NIL being a tiebreaker. Tennessee is kind of like going to work for that company that has a great name, but hasn't been a market leader in some time and the new CEO hasn't done a compelling job reversing that trend. But you've always dreamt about working for that company. That's compared to the startup that has hit it big, but it's hard to stand out there because everyone wants to work there (SC) or the company that has just sort of been chugging along without making any major waves in the market, but hired one of the top CEOs in the industry who immediately delivered on some blockbuster products and is now poised for continued growth and success (LSU). Oh, and both of those also offer a much more competitive salary/bonus platform.

You also may be overselling Tennessee's culture as a strong suit, because that is completely subjective, and it may very well be that some players preferred a different culture and that's what was the deciding factor.

 

[spojo13]

The internet can be tough. I have a very laid back, direct, funny, sarcastic personality IRL and have almost 0 conflict in my life. On here…

Like it’s not that deep! you have people on here acting like Kellie has slapped the fire out of them personally or that Kellie is their own child who was bullied on the playground. None of us matter at all in the hiring or firing scenario, but this is a message board to express opinions. If someone posts something that disagrees with yours, keep trucking or post a reasonable response back. There is no need for snark or name calling or sarcasm.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Like it’s not that deep! you have people on here acting like Kellie has slapped the fire out of them personally or that Kellie is their own child who was bullied on the playground. None of us matter at all in the hiring or firing scenario, but this is a message board to express opinions. If someone posts something that disagrees with yours, keep trucking or post a reasonable response back. There is no need for snark or name calling or sarcasm.

It is interesting. On the football forums you seem to several people that just can’t play nice and it seems personal But all others seem to have reasonable discussions.

On the WBB, it seems like the Hatfield and McCoys. You pick a side of the keep/fire CKJH and hate the other and it’s personal.

 

[VolBall09]

It is interesting. On the football forums you seem to several people that just can’t play nice and it seems personal But all others seem to have reasonable discussions.

On the WBB, it seems like the Hatfield and McCoys. You pick a side of the keep/fire CKJH and hate the other and it’s personal.

Great analogy. It’s been like that around here since Pat passed and they hired Holly. Almost immediately people chose sides, sharpened their pitchforks and lit their torches. It was civilish for a few seasons when we were working with Pats last recruits and culture.

Once the cracks started to show in the Holly camp it was on. “teach her Dean” and “farrhhh Holly” became the chant around here. Then you had the LV loyalists who would have rather seen the entire thing burn than fire Holly. Quite a time.

 

[MsSportsGuy]

My two cents, not that it matters:
1. Harper will be the coach next season
2. Without significant portal pick ups, what's left of the roster will struggle to win enough games to be in the tournament
3. Good portal pick ups could get them back in tournament position but first or second round exits at best.
4. This time next year there will be a new coach or the school will be in the market for one.

 

[spojo13]

It is interesting. On the football forums you seem to several people that just can’t play nice and it seems personal But all others seem to have reasonable discussions.

On the WBB, it seems like the Hatfield and McCoys. You pick a side of the keep/fire CKJH and hate the other and it’s personal.

So true! Family divided in here! I can see reasonable discussions from both sides whether to keep or let go. I have a side I may lean to, but I’m not going to hate someone who thinks differently, unless they are a Huskies fan.!

 

[spojo13]

Great analogy. It’s been like that around here since Pat passed and they hired Holly. Almost immediately people chose sides, sharpened their pitchforks and lit their torches. It was civilish for a few seasons when we were working with Pats last recruits and culture.

Once the cracks started to show in the Holly camp it was on. “teach her Dean” and “farrhhh Holly” became the chant around here. Then you had the LV loyalists who would have rather seen the entire thing burn than fire Holly. Quite a time.

It is very much like the end of Holly’s tenure, which kind of proves something that I think a lot of others don’t want to admit. Yes, there will always be a few people who will hate a hire as soon as it is made, and they can be ignored. When the mostly rational ones start having questions about things, it can start to get really ugly. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day that Amb and Volfan2012 would be attacked for their opinions, but here we are.

 

[VolBall09]

So true! Family divided in here! I can see reasonable discussions from both sides whether to keep or let go. I have a side I may lean to, but I’m not going to hate someone who thinks differently, unless they are a Huskies fan.!

My kind of people right here! It’s all love unless you wear that Navy Blue, White and Grey.

 

[VolBall09]

It is very much like the end of Holly’s tenure, which kind of proves something that I think a lot of others don’t want to admit. Yes, there will always be a few people who will hate a hire as soon as it is made, and they can be ignored. When the mostly rational ones start having questions about things, it can start to get really ugly. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day that Amb and Volfan2012 would be attacked for their opinions, but here we are.

My exact words when Kellie was hired were “cautiously optimistic.” I thought she was the easy hire for sure and that we could have reached higher but I loved her as a player. Her Mo State teams had been really fun to watch the last couple seasons and she was in the perfect position to move up when the job opened.

I was mostly supportive all the way up until this season. Really expected a lot more this season in year 5, even in the first few games. I was really unimpressed with our loss to FSU and the quality of the defense in that game. Just didn’t look like a prepared team at all. Went downhill from there after Rickea went down. There were some bright spots, but as someone else said, it just feels like we’ve seen her ceiling at this level.

 

[MsSportsGuy]

My exact words when Kellie was hired were “cautiously optimistic.” I thought she was the easy hire for sure and that we could have reached higher but I loved her as a player. Her Mo State teams had been really fun to watch the last couple seasons and she was in the perfect position to move up when the job opened.

I was mostly supportive all the way up until this season. Really expected a lot more this season in year 5, even in the first few games. I was really unimpressed with our loss to FSU and the quality of the defense in that game. Just didn’t look like a prepared team at all. Went downhill from there after Rickea went down. There were some bright spots, but as someone else said, it just feels like we’ve seen her ceiling at this level.

I thought she was a good, not great hire who was pleased overall with what I saw the first few years as chemistry and attitudes improved, plus they seemed to be moving in a decent direction. That progress has stalled though and there seems to be no improvement on the horizon. That being said I say she's back next year for one more go at things.