Who should Lady Vols hire? Here are 6 swing-big options, plus a fallback plan

Danny White faces a big decision - his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.
White is conducting a Lady Vols coaching search that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.
White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.
Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the Lady Vols search.
First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.
Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.
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[@tchrishoward]

They should've had someone already in mind before firing Kellie. If you're gonna fire a winning coach that's taken you to the tournament every year it better damn well be a significant upgrade, not someone with the same record

[@Ethan_Robbins_]

Gottlieb, Frese, Walz, Ivey, Baranczyk, are some of the candidates I like... Why is Lisa Fortier from Gonzaga not mentioned more.... 10 + years 81% winning pct..plays tough non con... she is gettable... I think she's much better than fall back category, but maybe not exactly home run territory, but a triple. She's my personal top choice, cause I think we could land her and she would win.. but not mentioned in most hot boards.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Gottlieb is staying. Walz can't compete against SEC now. Ivey will not leave ND, and Kellie beat Baranczyk.

[@penney304]

I think Danny White should consider Becky Hammon.

[@JJBanks1975]

Hammon: College experience: zero Recruiting experience: zero NIL experience: zero Transfer portal experience: zero College titles won: zero She is the female Jon Gruden. She has had some success in the pros and has a name. That’s it. She would be a terrible hire.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

@@JJBanks1975 You're just loud and wrong

[@rogerdavenport9618]

Temika Catchings was a real go getter don't know alot about her coaching skills.

[@arthurmabeejr8752]

This is great analysis with Blake, Cora and, John, very good insights! I agree Brenda Frese would be an excellent hire for Tennessee in women's basketball, she has a great track record, excellent recruiter and, very marketing person as far as women's college basketball.

[@tapout9742]

She’s boring and isn’t recruiting well at Maryland. The opposite of what this program needs

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Brenda is bleeding players now. She doesn't recruit.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Everyone hung up on Kara's "Lady Vol' label is totally ignoring her resume outside of that and it's maddening. It doesn't matter anyway, she's not leaving Duke.

[@JJBanks1975]

Good. We don’t need anymore former Lady Vols. We also don’t need someone who called the university racist for lack of diversity.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

@@JJBanks1975 Right because she definitely doesn't have that argument lmao

[@VetteZ06]

You don't fire Kellie Harper to get Kara Lawson. That's way too close to a lateral move, if not an exact lateral move.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

@@VetteZ06 It's not. But Kara said no so it's moot.

[@VetteZ06]

@@midwestmutineer7675 Of course it is. In fact, I probably would’ve preferred to keep Kellie if Kara were the other option. Her offenses are often brutal to watch. It’s an absolute no from me. But guess what? Kara never got a chance to say no because she was never asked. There is ZERO chance an AD as savvy as Danny White is going to go back to the Lady Vol well this time around after the previous two coaches failed. Kara can stay at Duke where expectations are ten orders of magnitude lower (and scoring less than 50 is tolerated).

[@georgesfrancoeur1651]

Pat Head was hired as the lady vols head coach while she was playing for UT....

[@jeffreydieselshank8421]

Years ago Florida was able to get Dickey from Tennessee for their football program, and that changed Florida. Tennessee needs to try to get Staley from South Carolina. If they have the money, no one is worth it like Staley.

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Dawn makes 3 mil a year, she also has a deep NIL program, an exceptional PT program just for the SC womens program as well as an outstanding Admin dedicated to their women's program. She's not leaving that.

[@JJBanks1975]

Not gonna happen. You could offer her $5 million a year and she isn’t leaving SC.

[@susanmoss7938]

Hey Kara, stay at DUKE where we love you!

[@Jason_Vols]

Agree. Dont want here at Tennessee

[@brentfisher1926]

I think Jon Adams is a hoarder on the low. He's got stuff everywhere!!! Really nice stuff but still lots of stuff lol. Love this podcast I listen every episode. #GBO

[@morrisdavis9231]

I know but just a wish list

[@chadspencer954]

Becky Hammond!!!!! Kara Lawson!!!!

[@c.gibson6349]

The former PAC12 conference has tremendous wealth of quality coaches/teachers/people, so choices from there. Walz & McGuff of OSU...NOPE! Swing big...Assoc. Head Coaches from Iowa or Stanford. And look at Dawn Staley types that would be respected by recruits to current players from WNBA/US Olympics.

[@tigerswin2532]

Why is Tennessee so terrible in choosing coaches? Lawson is the obvious choice. If you don’t you will be watching Duke in final fours while you sit at home. She is a great coach and the top motivator in the sport. Want better than her that will get results? Staley is not leaving, Gino and Tara are not. Mulkey- nope. Moore- doubt it.

[@tapout9742]

I think Danny white knows how to find people with upside that casual fans don’t know. I think Tomekia Reed will get an interview. She had the blessing of Kim Mulkey last year and Geno this year. She will have no problem recruiting. She has players she can bring. She can coach and she is a culture shift that this program needs to reboot the brand. Danny found Felicia Jack an unknown now look at what she’s done with Syracuse

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Tomekia Reed got a competing offer from JSU.

[@tapout9742]

@@midwestmutineer7675she did but they don’t have the money Tennessee has. She will end up somewhere in the power 5 eventually and will be successful.

[@morrisdavis9231]

Candice Parker

[@Volfanj]

She is still playing BB, come on

[@oldmcdonald3376]

please no staley. we dont need that drama and attitude here

[@leea8451]

Agree

[@scstoney]

Staley leaving SC for Tennessee would be a downgrade for her. She’ll never leave the legacy she has built!

[@tapout9742]

😂 Imagine having undefeated seasons multiple championships and players who succeed on and off the court and calling it drama. 80% of why this program has failed is it’s fanbase

[@dirtreynolds989]

​​@@tapout9742Right!? The worst part is they'll totally ignore the obvious.

[@big1cam]

I’d like to think Kara would at least get a courtesy call considering Danny’s dad hired her at Duke. But I trust Danny to make the right decision.

[@timmize9635]

I'm thinking Kim Caldwell lol

[@TeacherGuy51]

If Danny White wants a "foul-mouthed" hothead, who was suspended for his behavior and his constant use of the F-word. ahhhhhh Jeff Waltz is your man. (Louisville resident here) Sitting in the Yum Center, you can clearly hear him. In my mind, as a follower of Vols Sports, I cannot imagine a world where Waltz is dressed in orange.

[@Ivox]

Cora you don't deserve to suffer these two fools..

[@Volfanj]

Grand canyon head coach. Head coach has a remarkable record up n coming

[@jwhite601]

Go get Jeff Walz....females usually respond better to male leadership...Becky Hammond would be the fan favorite for sure.

[@Volfanj]

Up n coming , grand canyon head coach. A remarkable record.

[@scstoney]

Tennessee has seen their better days for sure.

[@JJG84679]

Wrong wrong wrong

[@johnjohn0]

Lindsay Gottlieb will have to be offered $20-30 mil guaranteed to even consider leaving Los Angeles for Knoxville. Nobody who is SUCCESSFUL in LA is leaving LA for Knoxville, TN. And she is SUCCESSFUL. Taxes were lower in Arkansas and Oklahoma for Lincoln Riley and Musselman. But they left for LA. USC has more billionaires than the SEC schools combined. They can pay her.

[@Volfanj]

Seriously? No titles, no consider, no finals eith÷r, don't even mention if there is no background

[@Jason_Vols]

Cora looks like a typical leftist