Kim Caldwell (Rookie Coach of the Year-WBCA) is named Head Coach of Iconic Lady Vols WBB

[turbovol]

It's ok to disagree. I believe she would be one of the best hires that could be made - aside from landing a coach with a history like Rick Barnes.

Either way, Stephens makes perfect sense with DW's hiring history.

No, she doesn't make perfect sense.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

I mean it’s great if you’re coaching and recruiting in Division 2, but not exactly stellar when your main conference rivals are wearing division one natty rings sitting across the dining room table from you during your home visit.

Do we not have history and tradition that she can sell?

 

[Volstylexx]

I’ll add she may be a really nice person, but her press interviews really don’t impress. She seems a bit lost in the spotlight. Kellie was far more polished.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Well how many recruits were signed in 2022 and 2023 ? That is rhetorical ....zero ...none .....nil .Whose fault was that ? That is rhetorical ....Coach Harper and friends. The only players of quality came out of the portal ....Jackson and Spear .Jackson is gone so how does that leave the cupboard .....that is rhetorical ....in bad,bad shape.

Oh and many on here said we had an elite roster, so if that’s true the coach should be able to win with it.

 

[spojo13]

Do we not have history and tradition that she can sell?

Kellie had the same history to sell and wasn’t reeling then in….

 

[butchna]

I’m sorry but I can’t take you serious when you say she would be a home run hire.

Then laugh your azz off…changes everything.

 

[creekdipper]

What can a skinny woman do for you?

"My wife, she's a sturdy gal."

Classic. Kenan Thompson was great as the host.

Ol' Doug was doing fine until that Final Jeopardy category.

 

[creekdipper]

Do we not have history and tradition that she can sell?

Everything is for sale these days.

 

[Volstylexx]

Do we not have history and tradition that she can sell?

There’s only a certain type of recruit that is sold on history and tradition (aka a home grown TN kid, or a legacy recruit). Everyone else at this point is “What have you done for me lately” and NIL. If NIL donors wouldn’t give money because they didn’t think Kellie could win, why on earth would they give money for this type of hire? I’d hold my contribution and say “we’ll see what she does.”

 

[JohnnyD1024]

Kellie had the same history to sell and wasn’t reeling then in….

Then we might as well drop the program because obviously if Kellie can't do it then no one can.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

No, she doesn't make perfect sense.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

There’s only a certain type of recruit that is sold on history and tradition (aka a home grown TN kid, or a legacy recruit). Everyone else at this point is “What have you done for me lately” and NIL. If NIL donors wouldn’t give money because they didn’t think Kellie could win, why on earth would they give money for this type of hire? I’d hold my contribution and say “we’ll see what she does.”

I just thought of something but what if the Nil funds are coming now and this will attract recruits, so White wanted to have his chosen coach in place for the credit. Just a random thought I had not saying that’s what I think at all.

 

[VolFuture]

I’ll add she may be a really nice person, but her press interviews really don’t impress. She seems a bit lost in the spotlight. Kellie was far more polished.

I will add that one thing that struck me off about Kellie’s interviews was her inability to recall plays or shots or calls she made in postgame. She always pulled the line “I’ll have to watch film”

Idk it that’s her way of deflecting or she literally doesn’t know

 

[spojo13]

Then we might as well drop the program because obviously if Kellie can't do it then no one can.

I’m just pointing out that the history doesn’t sell like you think it does. What else does she have to offer? She won a division 2 championship? I hope our donors are lining up to give to her bc there is no way she is out recruiting Dawn, Geno, Kim, or even Kara with that sales pitch

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I will add that one thing that struck me off about Kellie’s interviews was her inability to recall plays or shots or calls she made in postgame. She always pulled the line “I’ll have to watch film”

Idk it that’s her way of deflecting or she literally doesn’t know

I never liked how she was in press conferences, she never seemed to know what was going on and would always say the same things, like we know what we have to do and we will get better.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

I just thought of something but what if the Nil funds are coming now and this will attract recruits, so White wanted to have his chosen coach in place for the credit. Just a random thought I had not saying that’s what I think at all.

I can guarantee this coach will have NIL support he will not wanna look like a complete dope and will have to make sure they receive the resources Kellie wasn't afforded.

 

[Volstylexx]

No, she doesn't make perfect sense.

Kellie was 12-37 against ranked opponents. Stephen’s has played one ranked opponent in career as a division one coach- and lost that game by 43 points but a (seemingly large) contingent of Lady Vol fans seem to think she’d be great. I don’t get it. Like, I really just can’t wrap my brain around it. Are we that apathetic as a fan base that we’re somehow convincing ourselves that D2 championships are sufficient reason to turn over the reigns of one of the most prestigious programs in women’s basketball history?

 

[JohnnyPayne]

I can guarantee this coach will have NIL support he will not wanna look like a complete dope and will have to make sure they receive the resources Kellie wasn't afforded.

Exactly.

 

[ttharp]

I just thought of something but what if the Nil funds are coming now and this will attract recruits, so White wanted to have his chosen coach in place for the credit. Just a random thought I had not saying that’s what I think at all.

Improved NIL funds would be great.

But if I’m a top five recruit, I have aspirations to play in the WNBA, I want to go to a FF, AND other schools are offering an NIL bag? I’m not playing for an unproven coach.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Kellie was 12-37 against ranked opponents. Stephen’s has played one ranked opponent in career as a division one coach- and lost that game by 43 points but a (seemingly large) contingent of Lady Vol fans seem to think she’d be great. I don’t get it. Like, I really just can’t wrap my brain around it. Are we that apathetic as a fan base that we’re somehow convincing ourselves that D2 championships are sufficient reason to turn over the reigns of one of the most prestigious programs in women’s basketball history?

And that loss was without VT best player.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Imagine all the people.

Nice John Lennon reference, subtly executed.

On a side note (not, ono sideboard) have you reconsidered those lyrics against current events? They track closely the World Economic Forum's goals as articulated by chairman Klaus Schwab.

I was surprised to see (just now) that the year Lennon released Imagine, 1971, was the same year Klaus founded the WEF.

... Conspiracy... or just drinking the same childhoods-during-WW2 flavored Kool-Aid?

 

[turbovol]

I don't understand why people are acting like winning a division 2 championship isn't an accomplishment. She was a coaching a division 2 school with division 2 school players against other division 2 schools and players. It's not like she was coaching a power 5 school and moved down and had an unfair advantage.

Because it's always more difficult when you go up in class. How many of the top 100 high school football or basketball prospects become top major-college players? I think history shows it's well less than half. Why? Because major-college is a lot different from high school or Div. ii. Our men's tennis coach, Woodruff, won the national singles title while at Tennessee. But as a pro he was essentially a journeyman--not a top player. Moving up in class is always more challenging.

Steve Gomez has won 3 Div. II national titles witih Lubbock Christian, including an undefeated 2021 season. He's still at Lubbock Christian.

Why don't we hire Kari Pickens: She's won 2 Div. II National titles with Ashland College over the last 10 years--including 37-0 last year.
Pickens begins 2023-24 as the second-winningest NCAA women's basketball coach all-time in terms of winning percentage, minimum 150 games (.904). Somebody explain why a P5 major hasn't snapped her up?

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

I’m just pointing out that the history doesn’t sell like you think it does. What else does she have to offer? She won a division 2 championship? I hope our donors are lining up to give to her bc there is no way she is out recruiting Dawn, Geno, Kim, or even Kara with that sales pitch

I heard one of the bigger donors gave up their courtside seats and withdrew their donation promise. I do not know how true that is to be but came from someone in the know ....

Now other donors may step up but it'll be interesting ...

I fully think Danny will work harder to make sure this coach/ his hire has a huge NIL to ensure success. He can't look like he totally dropped the ball with this program.

 

[spojo13]

I heard one of the bigger donors gave up their courtside seats and withdrew their donation promise. I do not know how true that is to be but came from someone in the know ....

Now other donors may step up but it'll be interesting ...

I fully think Danny will work harder to make sure this coach/ his hire has a huge NIL to ensure success. He can't look like he totally dropped the ball with this program.

If she is the hire, then I hope he has all the checkbooks open. Let’s be real, just like allllllll the people from the football recruiting forum who suddenly now have an opinion about the Lady Vols coaching search have said, what happens with the Lady Vols will have no bearing on how he is looked at if Heupel continues to do well.

 

[Volstylexx]

I can guarantee this coach will have NIL support he will not wanna look like a complete dope and will have to make sure they receive the resources Kellie wasn't afforded.

You going to slap them on the wrist when they don’t write the checks.. like how are we going to force them? If they wouldn’t fund Kellie (one of our own) why are they going to fund someone they’ve never heard of prior to the press release?