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Who succeeds Pat?

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Doesn't matter who replaces Pat. They are just another program the minute she hangs it up.
 
Have to agree with Vowelguy -

Tennessee's future will be entirely dependent on who they hire. As discussed earlier in the thread, it could work out not so well, but the right coach might be able to continue a tradition of success. While a Tennessee fan might not want to consider falling from a unique position to "just" a contender, there are not very many good schools that can be considered more than that.

Slippage - unquestionable; "just another program" - doubtful.
 
Caldwell is not the obvious choice if Pat retires sooner rather than later. She does not have a lot of head coaching experience.

Honestly, I see this as a Bill Guthridge situation. Gut was holding the place for Dean's successor for three years (thought to be Roy Williams, but it was delayed by the D'Oh era). I could see Warlick coaching for three years, depending on when Pat retires, then allowing someone from the TN family to take over. The sooner Pat retires, the more likely there will be someone like Warlick to hold the position. If Pat continues for five more years, Caldwell, if successful at LSU, could step right in.
 
I would guess either Mickie DeMoss or Nicki Caldwell. In any event it will either be a past or present Summitt assistant, or a UT alumna.

I do not see Jeff Walz, although that would be a good choice. Muffet won't move from such a great situation she currently has.
 
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I think when PHS steps down, Tenn. will go after a proven head coach. Probably Caldwell first. Tenn. will slip some, but will still remain a premier program. Simply too many good players within 250 miles of Knoxville for someone like Caldwell not to get several of them.
 
ndmb said:
Caldwell is the obvious choice. If I were the UT administration, I'd be keeping an eye on Walz, who they might be able to sneak out of Louisville for an opportunity like Tennessee. Other than those two, I'm not sure if there are other sure things. I don't think McGraw would move that this time in her career (but who knows). McGuff has had some success at Xavier, but I have not seen them enough to have a sense of his coaching ability. Who else is out there?

The other factor here is that this disease sometimes moves slowly. I wouldn't be surprised to see Summitt have another several years left in her.
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Waquoit said:
Yeah, it's true. Same with UConn. There is nothing inherent about TN that says top program besides Pat.
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(1) University support
(2) Prime location near recruits in hotbeds Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, deep south, and Carolina
(3) A top-5/top-10 fan base
(4) Great facilities, built via past success
(5) Tradition & history
(6) BB Alumni
 
CamrnCrz1974 said:
Honestly, I see this as a Bill Guthridge situation. Gut was holding the place for Dean's successor for three years (thought to be Roy Williams, but it was delayed by the D'Oh era). I could see Warlick coaching for three years, depending on when Pat retires, then allowing someone from the TN family to take over. The sooner Pat retires, the more likely there will be someone like Warlick to hold the position. If Pat continues for five more years, Caldwell, if successful at LSU, could step right in.
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I agree with this. It also would avoid the curse of the coach-who-follows-a-legend.
 
Both Caldwell and Harper have more head coaching experience than Walz did when he went to Louisville.
 
vowelguy said:
(1) University support
(2) Prime location near recruits in hotbeds Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, deep south, and Carolina
(3) A top-5/top-10 fan base
(4) Great facilities, built via past success
(5) Tradition & history
(6) BB Alumni
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What is different about this situation than UCLA when Wooden left?
 
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doggydaddy said:
What is different about this situation than UCLA when Wooden left?
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well it's UCONN. or tennessee. i seriously don't get why people think UCONN and Tennessee will be super successful once Pat and Geno leave. there is zero historical proof. it would be far different if one or the other were named Duke, but neither is. Kentucky and UNC men are the only 2 shools that have shown an uber successful head coach can leave and eventually be replaced by someone else who can win a NC or two. ZERO historical proof on the women's side.

i know a lot of fans of both schools live in fantasy land. both schools will enjoy some success once Pat and Geno leave, but it will be NOTHING like it is now. and by the way, the only reason the UCONN fan base is so active is because we've had so much success. you think attendance was off the past 2-3 years? watch what happens when UCONN is the 2nd or 3rd best team in the big east and making the elite 8 is considered a great season...
 
doggydaddy said:
What is different about this situation than UCLA when Wooden left?
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I don't know enough about UCLA in the 70s to answer. But again I'd emphasize the gap between the top women's programs and the rest is quite large.

The vast majority of other schools have no chance of achieving #1, 3, or 4 in the next decade.

Geno once made a comment (which I'm surely butchering) along the lines of "any school could be as successful as us if they just tried. But most schools don't care about WCBB."
 
ericsandiego said:
well it's UCONN. or tennessee. i seriously don't get why people think UCONN and Tennessee will be super successful once Pat and Geno leave. there is zero historical proof. it would be far different if one or the other were named Duke, but neither is. Kentucky and UNC men are the only 2 shools that have shown an uber successful head coach can leave and eventually be replaced by someone else who can win a NC or two. ZERO historical proof on the women's side.
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But there are few examples for women's basketball period. How many examples are there of WCBB teams being uber successful and then falling off? Few, since so many of the pioneering coaches are still active.

- Purdue strikes me as a program that has managed to be successful through a series of coaches. F4 under Dunn in 94. NC in 99 under Peck.

- Duke is still strong under McCallie (though, yes, down a peg).

- Rutgers followed up Grentz (1982 NC) with Stringer (multiple F4s).

- LSU was as successful under Chatman than Gunter.
 
vowelguy said:
But there are few examples for women's basketball period. How many examples are there of WCBB teams being uber successful and then falling off? Few, since so many of the pioneering coaches are still active.

- Purdue strikes me as a program that has managed to be successful through a series of coaches. F4 under Dunn in 94. NC in 99 under Peck.

- Duke is still strong under McCallie (though, yes, down a peg).

- Rutgers followed up Grentz (1982 NC) with Stringer (multiple F4s).

- LSU was as successful under Chatman than Gunter.
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how many NC's do those schools have? collectively they have 1. in 50 years. do you think Tennessee or UCONN fans would consider 1 NC in 50 years to be successful?

would fans of either shool consider 2-3 final 4's in a 10 year period to be a success? is there any year at UCONN or Tennessee where just making the elite 8 is a huge accomplishment?

i'm not saying that neither program will make it to a final 4 or ever win a NC again, but winning a NC is a HUGE deal and both UCONN and tennessee fans tend to think that it's their birthright to contend for 1 every year. i'm not criticizing those fans, as it's what our respective successes have bred.

and i know not everyone will agree with me. i hope i'm wrong for the sake of UCONN. i hope i'm right with regards to tennessee... :)
 
Difference between Tenn. now and UCLA when Wooden got the top players from all over the country. Once he left, then it was only Western players that went there. Admittedly, PHS has recruited from all over the country, and that will take a hit, just as the program will take a hit. But with the right coach, say Caldwell, Tenn. will still get a lot of fine players because of the talent within 250 miles of Knoxville.
 
stwainfan said:
Both Caldwell and Harper have more head coaching experience than Walz did when he went to Louisville.
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Louisville is not on the same level of Tennessee, in terms of history and prowess. Not even close.
 
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CamrnCrz1974 said:
Louisville is not on the same level of Tennessee, in terms of history and prowess. Not even close.
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Well, where are you going to find a coach that has been at a school on the same level in terms of history and prowess?
 
I think that the long-term history of WCBB in any school, and by that I mean over generations, will ultimately depend on the stature of the school and the commitment to sports, esp. to woman's sports. So I agree that UCONN after Geno will not be what we have today, but it will still be good; but UT without Pat, much less so.​
Fun to speculate; time will tell.​
 
Ok lets get a list of top coaches who can bring TN back to the top? There are plenty of top coaches that would love the job. First of all it pays alot more money then most coaches earn. Second they can work by Pats side while shes still able to coach. Watching TN games last season Pat didnt look good. It appeared something was going on. Im sure those in charge at TN knew of Pats illness. Out of respect they kept it quiet and allowed her time to make the announcement when she was ready which was the right thing to do.

So when does the transition start. Sooner is better then later. A coach coming in after the disease sets in will have a tuffer time recruiting and rebuilding the program. Someone coming in next season with Pat by their side makes more sense to me, because kids go to TN because of Pat and the TN tradition. When Pat can no longer coach there is no tradition or HOF coach to play for. Its somebody elses team, and its not the same TN. So whoever comes in has to start to make their own mark on the program. They will start fresh and if the change isnt made quickly then the transition will be tuff. One other point is who will the current roster of players want to play for, when a list of coaches are chosen?

TN needs a coach who can recruit, and who can rebuild the program. TN will be starting over again. Having Pat there and coherent will be a big help in recruiting. That will last for a period of time. There are several coaches who can recruit and build. Look at some of the up and coming programs, South Dakota, Louisville, Kentucky, Marist to name a few. Think of what those coaches could do at a program like TN with Pat by their side. One big drawback to overcome is these when recruiting the kids must want to play for TN, not Pat, because we dont know how long Pat will be able to coach or remain on the sidelines.

So who are the top coaches who can build and recruit? They dont necessarily have to come from a a big time program. Lets start putting up names and credentials. I personally like Van Cancellor, Waltz, the coachs at Marist, South Dakota, and Kentucky as a start. Who do you like and why?
 
Van is too old... his best days are behind him!
 
Icebear said:
I cannot imagine TN hiring any man as a head coach in place of Pat. I think that simply would be unacceptable to too many involved.
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geesh... clue me in!
 
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As long as the cupboard is not bare when Pat decides to retire, the next coach will be successful. Tenn has too much resources and is willing to use them to insure their Women's Basketball Program continues to perform at a high level.

Pat has too much of a legacy for the next coach to be considered in her class, just like Geno does. There will be a comparison but the coach will come up short no matter how much success he or she has. Pat had her droughts where Tenn was not in the running for National Championships but it didn't matter because of her previous championships and the number of wins she has. Pat and Geno are legacies in the Women's game and whoever replaces them as the Head Coach will probably not be considered in their class until they're the head coach for approx 10 years and have won multiple National Championships. Until that happens they'll come up short.

As far fetched and unlikely it may be, I still consider her son to get consideration for the Head Coach position if both Pat and Tyler want it. There are two major drawbacks. First he's still in college and won't graduate for two years. I wouldn't be surprised to see him graduate sooner, if he's interested in the Head Coach position. Second will Pat's diagnosis enable her to effectively coach and recruit for three or more years. If Pat is able to continue coaching after Tyler graduates, I can see him getting a coaching position at Tenn to get the experience and recognition that he's a viable candidate to be her replacement despite not having any previous head coaching experience. If Pat is able to coach for 5 or more years and Tyler has 3 years experience at an asst coach level, then he would be a natural replacement for Pat. Another option is to promote one of the existing asst coaches to be Pat's replacement, Tyler as an assistant coach, with the ultimate goal that Tyler will take over in three or four years. Tyler has been around the program his whole life and knows the program inside and out and knows what it would take to continue the Lady Vol program at the highest level. The unknown is can he coach and recruit at the level it would be necessary. My hunch is that he can and if not he is smart enough to surround himself with the assistant coaches that can do the job.
 
Wbbfan1 said:
As long as the cupboard is not bare when Pat decides to retire, the next coach will be successful. Tenn has too much resources and is willing to use them to insure their Women's Basketball Program continues to perform at a high level.

Pat has too much of a legacy for the next coach to be considered in her class, just like Geno does. There will be a comparison but the coach will come up short no matter how much success he or she has. Pat had her droughts where Tenn was not in the running for National Championships but it didn't matter because of her previous championships and the number of wins she has. Pat and Geno are legacies in the Women's game and whoever replaces them as the Head Coach will probably not be considered in their class until they're the head coach for approx 10 years and have won multiple National Championships. Until that happens they'll come up short.

As far fetched and unlikely it may be, I still consider her son to get consideration for the Head Coach position if both Pat and Tyler want it. There are two major drawbacks. First he's still in college and won't graduate for two years. I wouldn't be surprised to see him graduate sooner, if he's interested in the Head Coach position. Second will Pat's diagnosis enable her to effectively coach and recruit for three or more years. If Pat is able to continue coaching after Tyler graduates, I can see him getting a coaching position at Tenn to get the experience and recognition that he's a viable candidate to be her replacement despite not having any previous head coaching experience. If Pat is able to coach for 5 or more years and Tyler has 3 years experience at an asst coach level, then he would be a natural replacement for Pat. Another option is to promote one of the existing asst coaches to be Pat's replacement, Tyler as an assistant coach, with the ultimate goal that Tyler will take over in three or four years. Tyler has been around the program his whole life and knows the program inside and out and knows what it would take to continue the Lady Vol program at the highest level. The unknown is can he coach and recruit at the level it would be necessary. My hunch is that he can and if not he is smart enough to surround himself with the assistant coaches that can do the job.
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This is simply such a bizarre concept I'm stunned. Name me one other one other legendary major college program among the best of their sport with a multi-million dollar budget that would consider it appropriate to turn over that program to an untested and inexperienced 23 year old because he child of the legendary coach even with a quality support group in place.
 
DaddyChoc said:
geesh... clue me in!
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Come on DC you really don't think that is true. TN is as much an old girls network as there is. Even the structure of the athletic department is set that way.
 
Icebear said:
Come on DC you really don't think that is true. TN is as much an old girls network as it is. Even the structure of the athletic department is set that way.
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well they did hire the token male Dean Lockwood. :)
 
Wbbfan1 said:
As far fetched and unlikely it may be, I still consider her son to get consideration for the Head Coach position if both Pat and Tyler want it. The unknown is can he coach and recruit at the level it would be necessary. My hunch is that he can and if not he is smart enough to surround himself with the assistant coaches that can do the job.
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Who the heck would chose to go to TN under such a situation?
 
Icebear said:
Come on DC you really don't think that is true. TN is as much an old girls network as it is. Even the structure of the athletic department is set that way.
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I guess you got a point
 
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