Kellie Harper has been fired as the Head Coach of Tennessee, multiple sources confirm to The Ball Out. Harper just ended her fifth year with her alma mater. Sources tell The Ball Out that the Lady Vols plan to have a new coach in place by next week.
Update (4/6/24)
10:17 p.m. ET.
- Sources out of Marshall are saying that Kim Caldwell and Tennessee has some serious momentum. We have heard Caldwell’s name more and more as the day has went along. Buckle up and keep refreshing this page!
2:57 p.m. ET.
- Our hunch is that the Tennessee search is winding down. Just now, sources tell The Ball Out that AD Danny White offered the job to 2 people and got turned down. Our sources would not reveal the names of those two candidates, but it looks like White will have to settle for his third choice. We will keep you updated!
Update (4/5/24)
10:54 p.m. ET.
- We are blown away by what we just heard! Kim Mulkey wants the Tennessee job, sources tell The Ball Out.
Update (4/4/24)
10:14 p.m. ET.
- We are going to emphasize names we are hearing, and believe are in the mix, but also, names that aren’t! Kara Lawson and Jeff Walz ARE NOT in the mix at all! Walz never was, according to multiple The Ball Out sources! Names that we haven’t mentioned before, that we believe are in the mix like Maryland’s Brenda Frese, Marshall’s Kim Caldwell and UNLV’s Lindy La Roque. We will be adding more names as we here them.
6:41 p.m. ET.
- One name that has not been contacted by Tennessee is Jeff Walz, sources tell The Ball Out.
12:19 p.m. ET.
- Sources tell The Ball Out that Tennessee is willing to spend $3M per year for a head coach. Also, Tennessee is VERY CLOSE to having their next head coach. We wouldn’t be surprised if they have their next choice in the next 48 hours, sources say.
Update (4/3/24)
6:03 p.m. ET:
- This is a BIG UPDATE! Here are the names sources have told The Ball Out that Tennessee has approached: Kara Lawson, who is rumored to have turned down the advances from Tennessee. We haven’t been able to confirm that, but that’s what a source says that rumor is. Dawn Staley. We know that Staley does not get along with her current AD, but we don’t believe there is anything serious between Staley and Tennessee. The Lady Vols have also approached Kim Mulkey, but don’t think it’s gotten anywhere. Another name that they have targeted is Wes Moore, but we don’t think Moore is interested, per sources.
- There is another big-name coach that we believe is in the mix, but we haven’t been able to source it yet. However, they are a National Champion.
1:06 p.m. ET:
- Scott Rueck is not in the mix for the job, sources tell The Ball Out.
10:23 a.m. ET:
- One name that can be eliminated is Marquette’s Megan Duffy. Duffy has landed a job elsewhere, we don’t know where yet. However, we do know Duffy won’t be the next head coach at Tennessee.
Update (4/2/24)
(6:42 p.m. ET):
- A source mentions to The Ball Out Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. We are skeptical of this information, but we wanted to share it with you all anyway.
(5:28 p.m. ET:)
- A name that we believe is in the mix. This is not sourced, but more a hunch, but we believe Marquette’s Megan Duffy is involved.
(12:22 p.m. ET):
- New names we are hearing: Carly Thibault-DuDonis (Fairfield) and Lindy La Rocque (UNLV).
Update (3:28 a.m. ET):
- There’s a surprising name that we are working to confirm through more sources before we reveal it. Keep refreshing this page!
Update (4:14 p.m. ET):
- A very prominent source tells The Ball Out that Kara Lawson is the frontrunner for the Lady Vols job.
Here are some early names we believe that Tennessee will likely target:
- Kara Lawson, Duke.
- Scott Rueck, Oregon State.
- Jeff Walz, Louisville.
- JR Payne, Colorado.
- Cori Close, UCLA.
More details as this story develops.
