The firing of Lady Vols head basketball coach Kellie Harper was less about performance and more about expectation. After five seasons, the former Lady Vols coach led the team to a 108-52 record while going 53-24 in the SEC. While that record may be acceptable at some schools, the UT brass felt it wasn't good enough at Tennessee.
The most damning thing for Harper was the lack of postseason success that was synonymous with the Lady Vols during the Pat Summitt years. Harper failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen during her tenure with the Lady Vols and never finished higher than third place in the SEC during the regular season.
The move by White and the administration wasn't a personal one. There is just a level of expectation that comes with following in the footsteps of the greatest coach in women's basketball history. Had Harper made it to the Final Four, there may be a different conversation happening. We would likely be discussing how she will rebound with next year's team. But, the string is much shorter when you are at the helm of a legendary program.
Now, White finds himself in a precarious situation. He must knock the next hire out of the park. There is little to no room for error, and he's doing so without the leverage of Pat Summitt's historical run on his side. Back in 2019, Tennessee had their pick of the litter when hiring a coach. That's not the case this go around. This hire will have to be strategic.
White will have to hire a coach who is great at the X's and O's as well as a great motivator. Most importantly, White will have to hire a proven recruiter to attract top talent while also managing NIL. The Lady Vols legacy is no longer a motivating factor for recruits. Next year's recruiting class would've been two or three the last time Tennessee won a national title. So, the coach will have to be able to attract talent on their own merit.
Ryan Cloud is the owner and writer for Vols Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @RyanCloudSports.
Comments