Headline: University of Tennessee Fires Women’s Basketball Coach, Begins Search for Replacement
The University of Tennessee has announced the firing of Kellie Harper as the women’s basketball coach after five seasons. As the Lady Vols begin their search for a new coach, several candidates have emerged as potential replacements.
Among the top candidates to monitor during the search are Niele Ivey, Lindsay Gottlieb, Jeff Walz, Scott Rueck, Cori Close, JR Payne, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Kara Lawson, Tomekia Reed, Jennie Baranczyk, and Shea Ralph. Each coach brings a unique set of skills and accomplishments to the table, making the decision a tough one for the university.
Niele Ivey, currently coaching at Notre Dame, is known for her strong recruiting abilities and coaching success, although her ties to Notre Dame may complicate a potential hiring. Lindsay Gottlieb, the current coach at USC, has had success transforming the program and recruiting top talent.
Jeff Walz, the Louisville coach, has an impressive track record and has taken the team to two national championship games. Scott Rueck, coaching at Oregon State, has seen success with the Beavers and could potentially be lured away to the SEC.
Cori Close, the coach at UCLA, may be a tough hire as a California native. JR Payne, the coach at Colorado, has seen recent success after several 20-plus win seasons. Yolett McPhee-McCuin has led Ole Miss to three straight NCAA Tournaments and is considered a rising star.
Kara Lawson, currently coaching at Duke, may be a solid candidate with her pro success and recruiting. Tomekia Reed, the Jackson State coach, has an impressive record and has drawn interest from other conferences. Jennie Baranczyk, the Oklahoma coach, has had success in her three seasons, winning the last two Big 12 regular-season titles.
Shea Ralph, the coach at Vanderbilt and a UConn alum, has built the Commodores into a solid SEC program and may be a wild card for the Lady Vols.
For more information on University of Tennessee women’s athletics, interested parties can contact Cora Hall at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @corahalll. Consider a digital subscription for access to all of Cora’s coverage.
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