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

[Lurker]

1) That is not my personal opinion per se. I think Brenda is a good coach, but I worry she is on the downhill part of her career. I think there are NIL/program investment issues at Maryland so I wouldn't be shocked if she reached out. I don't know what went on between Pat and Brenda. But I trust at least one account from an individual that was with Pat on a near daily basis to trust that if you hire her a sizeable group of people are going to explode.

I don't have a preference. If I were AD my exhaustive contact list would be in no particular order

Becky Hammond, Lindsey Gottlieb, Cori Close, Kevin McGuff, Teri Moren, Jennie Barancyzk.

Note: Vic, Dawn, Niele, Wes Moore not included because I dont see a scenario where they leave even for a jackpot or they are too old.

McCuin was on it until yesterday. That assistant hire calls her judgment into serious question.

If its not one of those 6 I'm not sure what the point was.

These six names comprise the best target list I’ve seen since the search began.

I’m reluctant to suggest Hammon due to her lack of recruiting experience; however, that can be fixed by good assistant choices. To me, recruiting was a huge shortcoming for the past several years. That price tag would be very high, but it certainly would make a statement.

I personally prefer the Oklahoma, Ohio State and the Indiana coaches. I cannot bring myself to believe the USC coach would leave her current situation for a restart.

Freese and Walz are good coaches, imo, but might be difficult fits in Knoxville.

 

[DaddyChad]

These six names comprise the best target list I’ve seen since the search began.

I’m reluctant to suggest Hammon due to her lack of recruiting experience; however, that can be fixed by good assistant choices. To me, recruiting was a huge shortcoming for the past several years. That price tag would be very high, but it certainly would make a statement.

I personally prefer the Oklahoma, Ohio State and the Indiana coaches. I cannot bring myself to believe the USC coach would leave her current situation for a restart.

Freese and Walz are good coaches, imo, but might be difficult fits in Knoxville.

I do think Hammon would be fine on recruiting but that is also my concern even though it’s not much of one. It’s the only reason I would prefer Gottlieb above her. Most of the names we’ve mentioned are going to be very good fundamental coaches; it’s who can sell the program and the NIL aspect the best.

 

[WVU05UT09]

These six names comprise the best target list I’ve seen since the search began.

I’m reluctant to suggest Hammon due to her lack of recruiting experience; however, that can be fixed by good assistant choices. To me, recruiting was a huge shortcoming for the past several years. That price tag would be very high, but it certainly would make a statement.

I personally prefer the Oklahoma, Ohio State and the Indiana coaches. I cannot bring myself to believe the USC coach would leave her current situation for a restart.

Freese and Walz are good coaches, imo, but might be difficult fits in Knoxville.

Teri Moren would actually be my top choice. She doesn't recruit like Gottlieb but I like her offensive system and Indiana was straight up dog trash before her arrival. Not convinced we can get her even with a money bag. She's from Indiana. Her father lives near Bloomington and her mother passed away recently. So not sure its in the cards for her to make a move...

 

[Max Roguespierre]

Not saying people are wrong. It may well be past her time.

But I’m taking her over 90% of the people I’ve seen listed here

If Frese is past her prime that's mostly due to Maryland's nonexistent NIL program. It's almost certainly the reason for three straight underwhelming recruiting hauls for the Terps and it would be also the main factor if Frese were to leave Maryland for Tennessee. Lest people forget, Maryland made the Elite Eight in 2023 with a team that lost Ashley Owusu, Angel Reese, and Mimi Collins to the transfer portal with only one truly elite player (Diamond Miller). Maryland also made the Sweet Sixteen in both 2021 and 2022 and was poised to make a Final Four run in the canceled 2020 tournament with a loaded team that was ranked 4th and on a 14 game unbeaten run heading into the NCAAT.

Brenda Frese is still an elite coach albeit one with some baggage. She is definitely old school and uncompromising which hasn't always endeared her to players who require a lighter touch. Hence the transfers of players like Shakira Austin and Ashley Owusu (Reese decided to bail only after her friend, Owusu left).

With a significant NIL warchest and Tennessee's facilities and resources, Brenda Frese would absolutely reestablish the Lady Vols as a top 10 (possibly top 5) program.

 

[Mafiaboss]

Is that what that means? She was my number 1 choice

The original post is authored by USC propaganda account. Gottlieb replied with two emoticons, one of which, a rocket, can be interpreted as agreement with the original post that says “The sky is the limit,” meaning, the USC program has unending potential for greatness. The other emoji is a peace sign. I don’t think Gottlieb has stated unequivocally that she’s staying or leaving. I have no idea if she’s staying or leaving, but I put my faith in straight-forward statements from the primary source, like “I am staying at USC,” or, “I am leaving USC.”

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Really? He was on everybody's list and the local sports talk shows all considered him the coach we hire if we could not get an A list coach

Not really. Everyone threw his name out just because of his connections with DW. Literally nobody was thinking he would hire Heupel. White himself said he tried to not hire him. The football coaching search had zero true leaks.

 

[WVU05UT09]

The original post is authored by USC propaganda account. Gottlieb replied with two emoticons, one of which, a rocket, can be interpreted as agreement with the original post that says “The sky is the limit,” meaning, the USC program has unending potential for greatness. The other emoji is a peace sign. I don’t think Gottlieb has stated unequivocally that she’s staying or leaving. I have no idea if she’s staying or leaving, but I put my faith in straight-forward statements from the primary source, like “I am staying at USC,” or, “I am leaving USC.”

To most that's a peace sign, for USC thats the "V" for victory hand sign they do in the Tribute to Troy.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Everybody has a different take on who the top five are. Everybody has a top five and none of them match exactly.

The names usually on there are Kara Lawson, Lindsey Gottlieb and Walz. The Oklahoma coach is on quite a few of them as is Wes Moore. Then some have mid majors Molly Miller and Kim Caldwell. Several other names on one list or the other.

Lawson would be terrible

 

[creekdipper]

To most that's a peace sign, for USC thats the "V" for victory hand sign they do in the Tribute to Troy.

Blame Helen for that.

Durn long-haired, sandal-wearing hippies.

 

[Max Roguespierre]

Teri Moren would actually be my top choice. She doesn't recruit like Gottlieb but I like her offensive system and Indiana was straight up dog trash before her arrival. Not convinced we can get her even with a money bag. She's from Indiana. Her father lives near Bloomington and her mother passed away recently. So not sure its in the cards for her to make a move...

As someone who follows the B1G closely, I can tell you that Moren is at best mediocre as an in-game coach.

 

[VolFuture]

Please: Nobody comes into a new program, which has needs, and goes to the Final Four in year 1 or 2. Even with the portal it takes a bit of time.

Mulkey is the outlier not the mean…

She couldn’t even replicate her success and she got objectively better players from the portal this last year

 

[VolFuture]

That's not what the whiners said when holding up LSU's turnaround in year 2 as what should have happened here.

Not the norm and she couldn’t reproduce

 

[butchna]

Watch it, or don’t. Experienced enough or not? Has the Juice or not? Knows Pat Summit philosophy or not?

She makes around $250,000/yr.

We could do worse and yes…I did watch the whole thing. Feel free to say no, yeah or in between.

GBO!!!

The standard is higher than “could do worse”. That being said, she far exceeds that imo. There’s basketball intelligence being expressed and that sells in recruiting and on the court. She seems like a Dan White hire.

 

[VolFuture]

TIFWIW, bu Hubbs said he expects an announcement by Monday. I know some new names have been mentioned like Ole Miss HC I believe. But with Danny White? Who knows?

Not a chance we get Yo and my god we don’t want her

 

[butchna]

Good basketball mind and teaching philosophy.

And communicates it well. First instinct is to dismiss her because she’s pretty. She’s going to be successful…somewhere.

 

[Mafiaboss]

To most that's a peace sign, for USC thats the "V" for victory hand sign they do in the Tribute to Troy.

True. I forgot context. Still, I’m waiting for a clear “Yes, I’m leaving” or “No, I’m staying.”

 

[WVU05UT09]

As someone who follows the B1G closely, I can tell you that Moren is at best mediocre as an in-game coach.

Maybe, maybe not. Her rebuild of Indiana is unmistakably positive.

But the criteria has been laid out. If were talking a home run or upgrade from KH then coaches that have made Elite 8's/Sweet Sixteens multiple years or shown the ability to win conference titles have to be the standard. In which case Moren is on the list.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Not really. Everyone threw his name out just because of his connections with DW. Literally nobody was thinking he would hire Heupel. White himself said he tried to not hire him. The football coaching search had zero true leaks.

Several people commented that DW made a large offer to Franklin as his last big swing and that Heupel was the backup.

 

[Mafiaboss]

I’m thinking there are so many moving parts to deciding who will be the best fit for the coaching position. It would take AI to invent the perfect coach …. Hey! In DW’s press statement, he said he wants the program to be back at the top. I’m sure he knows what it takes to put a program at the top. I also think he makes the bags that he does because he’s a good businessman and knows how to evaluate potential employees and investments. I don’t count out any of the current best coaches as the new LV coach, but it definitely needs to be the best fit and the person who checks off as many of the prioritized criteria, beginning at the top of the list, as he can hire.

 

[VolFuture]

Because we all thought DW was going to get his A list coach. I was not surprised I knew an A list coach was not going to happen

The football bottom is wayyyyyy lower than the LV bottom

 

[brittannica]

The football bottom is wayyyyyy lower than the LV bottom

I’m sorry but you don’t call the program “iconic” in your statement and then give the keys to just anyone.

 

[Decker Moss]

Well, McPhee-McCuin just moved up to the top of the list by hiring a former P-5 head coach with a strong offensive mindset.

Not after the assistant coach she just hired

 

[VolFuture]

1) That is not my personal opinion per se. I think Brenda is a good coach, but I worry she is on the downhill part of her career. I think there are NIL/program investment issues at Maryland so I wouldn't be shocked if she reached out. I don't know what went on between Pat and Brenda. But I trust at least one account from an individual that was with Pat on a near daily basis to trust that if you hire her a sizeable group of people are going to explode.

I don't have a preference. If I were AD my exhaustive contact list would be in no particular order

Becky Hammond, Lindsey Gottlieb, Cori Close, Kevin McGuff, Teri Moren, Jennie Barancyzk.

Note: Vic, Dawn, Niele, Wes Moore not included because I dont see a scenario where they leave even for a jackpot or they are too old.

McCuin was on it until yesterday. That assistant hire calls her judgment into serious question.

If its not one of those 6 I'm not sure what the point was.

Very well thought out

I would add a lower tier which is basically Kellie but “on the rise” perception:

Barancyzk (would drop her here)

JR Payne

Scott Rueck (seriously look up this guys resume it like if molly miller actually won national titles)

Kara Lawson

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Sorry but those of you saying Hammond would be a good hire, I totally disagree. No experience coaching at the college level. No experience with the portal, NIL and recruiting. We don’t need someone who has to learn on the job.

 

[VolFuture]

Some of you must have really weird expectations...

Jeff Walz at 77.5% isn't good enough even with 4 final four appearances?
Brenda Frese at 77% isn't good enough even with 3 final four appearances and a Natty in this century? She's also 42-17 in the tournament but that's not good...

We're replacing a career 60.2% coach that only eclipsed 60% while here with the Lady Vols brand and support helping her land great talent.

We're not looking for the next Pat Summit because there will never be another, we're looking for better than Holly Warlick & Kellie Harper.

Context on win % Kellie consistently had a top 5 schedule

Brenda has a HUGE millions buyout

And no one is dumb for wanting someone of high class and they can question theirs and the drama around those programs.

I personally wouldn’t mind either I think Walz is the better hire but still down the list