Kim Caldwell Expected To Be Around A While Longer At UT

Image: Saul Young/News Sentinel

By Tyler Edmands

On March 31st, Athletic Director Danny White announced that Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell had signed a one-year extension with Tennessee.

It will keep her in Knoxville through the 2029-30 season.

After signing a five-year, $3.75 million contract last April, Caldwell turned the heads of many this past season. Her team posted a 24-10 record last season, Tennessee’s second highest win total by a new head coach (Holly Warlick — 27 wins in 2012-13).

This win total also includes a run to the Sweet 16, where the Lady Vols lost 67-59 to Texas last Saturday.

In her first year coaching Power 4 basketball, Caldwell gave Tennessee fans a glimpse of what the future looked like. Her squad climbed to No. 11 in the rankings this year, but the peak of their season came in an upset win over No. 5 UConn in Knoxville.

The Lady Vols’ 80-76 win snapped the Huskies’ four-game win streak over Tennessee and was their first since the rivalry resumed in 2020.

Caldwell’s system has major appeals beyond the hardwood as well.

The Lady Vols’ 2025 recruiting class is No. 1 in the country, according to 247Sports. Of Tennessee’s five committed players, three rank inside the top 16 of the class.

Though Caldwell’s season would be seen as a major success for most programs, Tennessee fans don’t play about Women’s Basketball. Kellie Harper was run out of town last season after posting a 108-52 record over five years.

On the bright side for Caldwell and Tennessee basketball, she’s still a young coach. She heads into just her tenth season coaching next year, with only two of those seasons coming at the Division I level.