The Lady Vols basketball program has decided to part ways with head coach Kellie Harper after five seasons. Athletic director Danny White announced Harper’s firing following the team’s loss to NC State in the NCAA Tournament. While Harper helped to improve the program during her tenure, the team struggled to achieve the success of previous years, including failing to make it past the Sweet 16.
Harper’s contract ran through 2028, and she is owed $2,222,916 due to being fired without cause. Her high school recruiting efforts came under scrutiny this season, as the team struggled when star forward Rickea Jackson was sidelined with an injury. Despite some successes, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023, the team’s performance this past season fell short of expectations.
Harper, a former Lady Vol herself and three-time national champion, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach at her alma mater. Her time as head coach included a mix of highs and lows, culminating in her dismissal after a challenging season that saw the team finish 20-13.
With Harper’s departure, the search for a new leader for the Lady Vols basketball program will begin, as the university aims to restore the team to its former glory. The decision to part ways with Harper marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the program.
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