After five seasons, Tennessee is looking to replace Kellie Harper as head coach, so the Lady Vols are conducting a coaching search. Here are some possible candidates Danny White may choose to replace Harper.
In her five seasons as head coach, Kellie Harper guided the Lady Vols to a 108-52 record (53-24 in SEC play), but on Monday, Tennessee announced that she was leaving the position.
This split is regrettable. As a product of Sparta, Tennessee, Harper was a standout player for the Lady Vols, leading the team to three national titles under Pat Summitt’s direction. Harper also holds a special place in her heart for the university.
In 2022 and 2023, Harper led the Lady Vols to consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances; however, she was unable to advance to the Elite 8. Tennessee hasn’t finished higher than third in the SEC since 2014–15, and the program hasn’t made it to the Final Four since 2008.
In an attempt to rebuild the brand, Tennesee athletic director Danny White is tasked with making a significant hire. The Lady Vols haven’t lived up to the Lady Vol standard. Here is a glimpse of the possible next head coach of Tennessee’s illustrious women’s basketball program.
Lawson, Kara
Danny White appears to be moving quickly, and the former Lady Vol seems like an obvious candidate who is being given serious consideration. Before embarking on a 13-year professional career, Lawson had a stellar collegiate career. She has also made a name for herself as a broadcaster, worked as an assistant coach in the NBA, and succeeded while attending Duke.
Thanks to consecutive seasons with 20 wins, Lawson has a 68-33 record in his four years at Duke. The Blue Devils have made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament under her direction, and this season they are back in the Sweet Sixteen.
Louisville’s Jeff Walz
Because Walz has one of the best resumes you’ll find, she is seriously considered for the position. The 52-year-old has previously expressed interest in the Lady Vols position.
With a 465–135 record, Walz is the most successful coach in program history all-time. The Cardinals have been led by him to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and two trips to the National Championship game a total of twelve times. After taking over a program that had only four tournament victories and had never advanced past the Sweet Sixteen before his arrival, Walz is 40-15 in the NCAA Tournament.
Lindsay Gottlieb of USC
In Gottlieb’s third season as head coach, the Trojans came dangerously close to defeating UConn this week, securing their spot in the Final Four. Over the course of his 14-year tenure as a college head coach, Gottlieb has enjoyed consistent success. He has also worked as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hiring her would be a great move for Tennessee.
Ole Miss Yolett McPhee-McCuin
Coach Yo at Ole Miss is the most passionate and driven coach in the women’s game. With the Lady Vols brand’s resources, she would thrive. Following two seasons of reconstruction during her first two years at Oxford, McPhee-McCuin has led the Rebels to four straight winning seasons, including three straight seasons with 20 wins, all of which were concluded with trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey
If the Lady Vols could convince Ivey to leave the team where she spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach and an All-American point guard, they would be well served by hiring her. Before succeeding Muffet McGraw as head coach of the Irish in 2020, she was a beloved assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Under Ivey, Notre Dame is 89-32 and has qualified for the Sweet Sixteen three times in a row. This season, the Irish won both the ACC Tournament and the regular season, and Ivey was named coach of the year.
NC State’s Wes Moore
Moore has to be included on this list given his ties to Tennessee. He graduated from nearby Johnson University in 1984, earned a bachelor’s degree from UT in 1986 and a master’s degree in 1987, and served as the women’s basketball coach at Maryville College from 1987-1993. Moore also took his first D1 coaching job at Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1998 and served as the head coach of the Mocs for 15 years.
After leading UTC to unprecedented success, Moore took the NC State job in 2023 and has gone 273-87 in 11 seasons with the Wolfpack. He’s guided NC State to the NCAA Tournament in eight of those seasons and will coach in the Final Four for the first time this weekend.
Moore is 66 years old, though. It could be more likely that his next move would be retirement instead of a new job.
Brenda Frese, Maryland
Frese is a candidate from out of left field, but there’s no denying her success at Maryland and she would certainly fit the mold of a big-time hire that White seems to want to make. In her 22 years at Maryland, Frese is a two-time National Coach of the Year, has signed 17 top-15 recruiting classes, made three Final Fours, won 14 conference titles and won the National Championship in 2006.
JR Payne, Colorado
Payne has been very successful during her time at Colorado and has ties to the Volunteer State as a Jackson, Tenn. native. It took her awhile to get over the hump with the Buffaloes, but has now won at least 20 games in three straight seasons and has made back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances.
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