Tennessee women's basketball fires Kellie Harper after five seasons

Tennessee has fired women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper. She spent five seasons at the helm of the program, finishing with a 108-52 (.675) overall record and 53-24 (.688) mark in conference play.

“After a thorough review of our women’s basketball program, I have informed Kellie we are making a change in leadership,” Tennessee vice chancellor/director of athletics Danny White wrote. “Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete.

“Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women’s basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives.” 

Tennessee posted a 20-13 record this season and ultimately fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 3 seed NC State. Less than three weeks prior, the Volunteers were moments away from reaching the SEC Tournament Championship.

With one second left in the game, Tennessee led undefeated South Carolina 73-71. Then, disaster struck. South Carolina standout Kamilla Cardoso banked in her first-career 3-pointer at the buzzer to swipe the win out of the Volunteers’ hands.

Tennessee was unable to replicates its magical performance in the NCAA Tournament. Included in Tennessee’s press released, Harper wrote a message about her time at the program.

“It has been an honor to serve at my alma mater and to coach a Lady Vol program I love so dearly,” Harper said. “I am grateful for the opportunity my staff and I have had to lead an amazing group of young women and to mentor them on the court as well as provide them with life skills that will benefit them far beyond the game of basketball.”

Tennessee will begin a nationwide search for its next head coach immediately.

“After seeking input from our student-athletes, I will begin an aggressive search process to find the next leader for our iconic women’s basketball program,” White said. “To protect the integrity of this process, you will not hear from me until we are ready to announce our new head coach.”

Under Kellie Harper, the Lady Vols never finished better than third in the SEC and never made it past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Now, the university will aim to return the storied program to its once great heights.