Tennessee parts ways with Kellie (Jolly) Harper [merged thread]

[Huskee11]

The ones I have spoken to are worried. @CamrnCrz1974

Perhaps throwing some additional sand into the slowly turning gears of the Sarah Strong decision-making process

 

[UConnCat]

Sounds like Harper could have stayed had she agreed to part with Staff. She declined. Not sure which staff member(s).

 

[bballnut90]

I hope they go that route but I see them gunning hard for Lawson. I hope Kara stays put though, she’s building such a good thing in Durham and it’d be a bummer to see that get disassembled.

 

[nwhoopfan]

It's not easy taking over for a legend, and TN is now two coaches away from Summitt. Wondering if that will still be an almost impossible job to fill, considering Pat's heavy legacy and the rabid fanbase of expectations.

It's not exactly comparable, but UCLA is still struggling and probably never will find a coach to fit the bill since Wooden retired. How many decades has that been?

 

[FormerCTrez]

As my avatar title states "I may not be the sharpest...", so how did Harper come to be known as Jolly?
Reading the thread title, I had no idea who was let go.

Jolly is her maiden name, and she was known as Kelly Jolly while in school. Her married name is Harper. Sometimes she referred to as Jolly, and sometimes, Harper.

 

[Stinger92860]

is Candace Parker interested in coaching?

 

[fireford]

With Oregon State essentially becoming a mid-major due to PAC 12 folding, I wonder if Scott Rueck is in the mix for this position.

 

[FormerCTrez]

No worries. Shea has a double dose of UConn and Vanderbilt dislike of UT. She is quite fond of Kellie Harper, though, and has spoken several times about how much she loved competing against her in their youth. I'm also a Harper fan. I would love to see her land somewhere that she can enjoy coaching again.

This!!

 

[FormerCTrez]

Sounds like Harper could have stayed had she agreed to part with Staff. She declined. Not sure which staff member(s).

Reading this tells me she’s a loyal, honorable person. It’s too bad she’s relieved of her duties as the Vols’ HC.

 

[CAbballfan2]

From what I remember, they passed on Kara and went with Harper. Can’t see Kara wanting that job now.

 

[Jim R]

Tennessee must be going Big Game Hunting for a new coach to compete with Mulkey, Staley, and Vic Schaefer in the SEC.

While he is newly hired, leaving out Brooks is a mistake. Believe you'll see Kentucky giving Staley fits as soon as year 2-3. Believe it or not, the template for hiring an outstanding coach is already there. Set by Wes Moore, Kenny Brooks, and as he's showing at W. Va, Mark Kellogg. And, one might say, Carla Berube. And, of course, there are others. Take a coach that's proven to be an enormously successful coach at smaller schools, and base the hire, beginning with an outstanding track record coaching. Then look at the other factors you view as "must haves".

 

[bballnut90]

Reading this tells me she’s a loyal, honorable person. It’s too bad she’s relieved of her duties as the Vols’ HC.

Isn’t her husband on staff?

 

[militarydog]

Trying to repeat history is a difficult task. While TN once dominated both the SEC and WBB, those days are long gone. SC, LSU & TX will be the new powerhouse teams in the SEC for the foreseeable future.

Whoever the new HC is in Knoxville, they will have an enormously difficult task, not simply to field a competitive team, but to also meet the lofty and often unrealistic expectations of a fan base that believes that TN can return to the glory days that once existed under Pat Summit.

I understand your point. However, in my opinion, they were more trying to repeat history by hiring someone that either played there, or was a long time assistant. Very few programs have the right mixture to be incredibly successful. For example, Alabama in football tried to keep it in the family for many years before finally going for the absolute best coach out there. Tennessee has all those same ingredients to make a similar impact.

 

[Jim R]

Isn’t her husband on staff?

Yep.

 

[FormerCTrez]

Isn’t her husband on staff?

I think so.

 

[cancontent]

When I first saw this (not here) I thought that someone was April 1 pranking.

I think quite a few of us did initially.

 

[cancontent]

+1. I was never sold on KJH as a second coming of Pat, but I also think the program needs to adjust its expectations - consistent 20-win seasons + multiple Sweet Sixteens is pretty solid, especially now that she's in conference with Dawn, Kim, et al. And I think with the right assistant coaches, KJH could have kept the program as a top 10 contender. It'll be really interesting to see who they get, because I'm having a hard time envisioning who's available, interested, and would be fairly certain to do significantly better than her record over five seasons, other than Kara. - whose interest and availability is unknown.

She also helped to develop two players currently in the WNBA in Burrell and Horston. And in both situations, they could have opted to go with a different program because of the coaching change. It's a tough business, especially when the program has a legacy it wants to get back to.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

Maybe they are going to try to go after Geno!

 

[fireford]

Maybe they are going to try to go after Geno!

TN announcing that would be the greatest April Fool's joke of all time.

 

[cancontent]

TN announcing that would be the greatest April Fool's joke of all time.

And with today's circumstances, it would have been a classic!

 

[Geew1992]

It's trending that if the AD throws money at Dawn, she'll leave SC.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Sounds like Harper could have stayed had she agreed to part with Staff. She declined. Not sure which staff member(s).

Hubby, lol.

 

[LETTERL]

No worries. Shea has a double dose of UConn and Vanderbilt dislike of UT. She is quite fond of Kellie Harper, though, and has spoken several times about how much she loved competing against her in their youth. I'm also a Harper fan. I would love to see her land somewhere that she can enjoy coaching again.

Maybe Kellie is just best suited for mid-major coaching and is just not a high-profile, pressure-packed program coach. In her defense, though...Tennessee did have injuries to deal with early in the year and the team seemed to be playing its best basketball toward the end of the year.

 

[hussybulldog]

It’s a shame . The SEC final loss and their close loss to NCSU in NCAA showed the team has a potential to be great. UConn didn’t fire Geno last year for failing to advance to fonaln4.

 

[hoopsfan22]

TN announcing that would be the greatest April Fool's joke of all time.

Hey why not a local CT news channel announced Geno's retirement this morning as an April Fool's joke.

 

[visitingcock]

It's trending that if the AD throws money at Dawn, she'll leave SC.

5 million per year? Plus buy out her contract at SCar? Get real.

Let's face it, the only present big name that makes sense is Scott Rueck because Oregon State's budget is not competitive with the Vols.

 

[Geew1992]

5 million per year?

Let's face it, the only present big name that makes sense is Scott Rueck because Oregon State's budget is not competitive with the Vols.

I don't think Dawn would go there regardless of the money

 

[LETTERL]

Could Kenny Brooks take the Tennessee job and jilt Kentucky? Would be a lot easier to recruit at Tennessee.

 

[JoePgh]

Megan Duffy is on a bunch of list. Miami is looking at her

Hmmm, I see Liza Karlen is in the portal. Is Coach Duffy leaving?

Hmmm, Geno might look at Karlen as a nice consolation prize if a certain Strong woman goes elsewhere.

 

[Vowelguy]

Why go from driving an a 2024 Audi to a 1979 Ford Fairmont?