Rick Barnes on Kim Caldwell at Tennessee: 'She's gonna be successful'

Kim Caldwell was named the next head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols following the firing of Kellie Harper in April, becoming the first non-Tennessee alumni to lead the program since legendary head coach Pat Summitt.

Caldwell made it clear in her introductory press that she will never be Summitt, but will strive to be someone she’d be proud of as she takes the reins of the historic Tennessee women’s basketball program. And in that process, she’s called upon Tennessee men’s head coach Rick Barnes for guidance.

Barnes spoke with the media at Big Orange Caravan and pulled back the curtain on his discussions with Caldwell as she enters her first season at Rocky Top and he looks ahead to his 10th at the helm for the Volunteers.

“Well, I’ve really enjoyed time with Kim,” Barnes said. “One, she’s gonna be successful and I can learn from her as much (as she can learn from me). You talk about wisdom, you can feel her passion, and I’ve seen what she’s done in a short time with what she’s got going right now and the way that they’ve spent this spring here.”

Barnes is one of the most experienced head coaches across men’s and women’s college basketball with nearly four decades of head coaching experience to his name.

Caldwell is in different shoes, as the 35-year-old is fresh off of her first Division I coaching job at Marshall, spending the previous seven seasons at Division II Glenville State. Leading her alma mater to an impressive 191–24 record with five conference tournament titles and a national championship win before helping lead the Thundering Herd to the NCAA Tournament and a 26–7 season.

“But I’ve really enjoyed time with her, and obviously all this has been new to her, but the way she’s handled everything has been really remarkable. And I just think it shows you that Danny White knew what he was looking for when he went out there and made a great hire,” Barnes said.

Caldwell has been putting in the work to lay down the foundation of her new roster, also adapting to the nuances that come with being a new head coach at a major program.

But at the end of the day, Barnes believes that her overall knowledge of the game is one of her greatest strengths that will work in her favor. Known for a fast-paced offense and pressure defense that also features unique five-person substitution patterns.

“But she’s a basketball person, and you can tell. Last trip we were on the plane and we just watched a little film together and talking about it you can just tell from her insight she knows what she’s doing. And like I said, I love talking basketball with coaches and I think she and I will end up spending time talking basketball and I think I can learn from her,” Barnes concluded.

Some considered Caldwell’s hiring a risk, and it will be fascinating to see how she fares in the SEC. But a stamp of approval from Barnes is surely a great early sign just a few months into her tenure in Knoxville.