Lady Vol coach Kim Caldwell gets extension and undisclosed raise
When Tennessee athletics director Danny White hired Kim Caldwell to be the Lady Vols head coach White said he understood why some might have reservations.
Caldwell had coached division one basketball for only one year in leading Marshall to the NCAA Tournament. But White believed his had a rising star that he couldn’t pass the opportunity on hiring.
“Obviously you would rather have a little more of a sample size,” White admitted, “but if you didn’t hire her this time someone else was going to. I think she’s going to be one of the best basketball coaches in the country and I think we have a great one for the future.”
White saw his hire take the Lady Vols to the Sweet Sixteen and log a home win against UConn back in January. Caldwell’s team saw their season come to an end on Saturday in a loss to #1 seed Texas in the Birmingham region. On Monday, White announced a one year extension on Caldwell’s contract taking her through the 2030 season. Caldwell is also getting a raise but those figures have not yet been released as the contact is yet to be signed. Caldwell made $750,000 in her first year and earned a $75,000 bonus for making the Sweet Sixteen. She also has in her contract that she will be the highest paid coach in women’s college basketball if she wins a national title.
“From our first meeting with Kim, it was clear that she is a groundbreaking innovator destined to lead the future of women’s basketball,” said White. “In just one season, we experienced firsthand how her winning formula can revolutionize the game with her dynamic, high-octane offense and relentless defense. The promising future of Lady Vols basketball is in great hands under Kim’s leadership, setting the stage for a remarkable journey ahead!”
Added Caldwell in a release, “I am grateful for Danny’s continued trust and belief in me after a foundational first season here at Tennessee,” Caldwell said. “I am very proud of our players and staff for the effort they put in and for what we accomplished together. I look forward to getting back to work, finding ways we can improve our program and continuing to take the steps necessary to compete for championships.”
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Caldwell’s up tempo and substitution pattern was the talk of the SEC and college basketball this season by many. Her team’s play earned the respect of everyone in year number one.
As I told Coach, she’s done an unbelievable job with that program in such a short period of time,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “A lot of people think what she would do or how she is doing it was going to work. I think she has shown them they ain’t right. What they do and how they do it is very effective.”
“That is one heck of a basketball team. I told her when I shook her hand before the game started, it’s going to be a knockdown, drag-out. I knew it was going to be. She has done an unbelievable job with that group. They play so hard.”
Caldwell and her staff are off to work in the transfer portal. The Lady Vols are pursuing Boston College transfer guard T’yana Todd and will likely sign 2-4 transfers in this cycle.
