Have you taken notice of the excitement surrounding the Lady Vols Basketball program?
I’ll be the first to admit I have no idea how Kim Caldwell is going to do in her maiden season as head coach of the Lady Vols. But one thing that has absolutely struck me is the energy level that appears to have engulfed the program and fans.
It took a while, many fans were upset with the decision to part ways with a Lady Vols legend and three time national champion Kellie Harper. It also didn’t help that not many fans had ever heard of Kim Caldwell. Glenville State?!? Where the heck is that and do they even play women’s basketball?
Oh yes they do and that’s where Caldwell won a national championship with the Pioneers in 2022 on her way to being awarded the Pat Summitt Trophy. That award recognizes the Division II National Coach of the Year. What a thrill that had to be for Caldwell who played for Glenville State 2007-11.
With the Division II national championship, Caldwell was given the opportunity to advance to Division I ball with Marshall. She promptly led the Thundering Herd to a 26-7 record and to it’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 1997. Caldwell was named Sunbelt Coach of the Year. To top things off, Caldwell received the prestigious Maggie Dixon Award as the top first year head coach in Division I. It certainly appears Caldwell is a winner everywhere she goes and now she gets the chance to extend that track record with the Tennessee Lady Vols.
Caldwell appears to have totally hit the ground running proving to be a hit with the fans during the Big Orange Caravan tour around the state. She has worked furiously to bring in four transfer signees that will add size and speed to the Lady Vols roster.
Additionally, Caldwell recently picked up commitments from twins Mia and Mya Pauldo rated as 5 star and 4 star recruits. They appear to be the future of the Lady Vols’ point guard position. There’s no question that the Lady Vols are going to push the ball at a pace that I’m not sure fans have ever seen in Thompson-Boling Arena.
It feels like a complete fresh start with Kim Caldwell as the Lady Vols coach. High energy, probably somewhat tempered expectations with a touch of anticipation that she could lead the Lady Vols back to an elite program that annually is in the hunt for SEC and national championships. That’s where the Tennessee Lady Vols belong, it is time they get back to that level.
