Lady Vols basketball head coach Kellie Harper was fired on Monday, per a release from Tennessee athletics.
Harper’s tenure ends following a five-year tenure as head coach. She compiled a 108-52 record, going 53-24 in SEC play.
“It has been an honor to serve at my alma mater and to coach a Lady Vol program I love so dearly,” Harper said. “I am grateful for the opportunity my staff and I have had to lead an amazing group of young women and to mentor them on the court as well as provide them with life skills that will benefit them far beyond the game of basketball.”
Harper ends her tenure with the Lady Vols following a loss in the NCAA Tournament second round to NC State. Tennessee qualified for the Sweet 16 in both the 2022 and 2023 tournaments.
As a player, Harper won three national championships, playing under former head coach Pat Summitt.
“After a thorough review of our women’s basketball program, I have informed Kellie we are making a change in leadership,” athletic director Danny White said. “Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete. Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women’s basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives.”
Harper previously coached at Western Carolina, NC State and Missouri State, leading all three programs to NCAA Tournament appearances.
Tennessee athletics will now conduct a search for its next head coach.
“After seeking input from our student-athletes, I will begin an aggressive search process to find the next leader for our iconic women’s basketball program,” White said. “To protect the integrity of this process, you will not hear from me until we are ready to announce our new head coach.”
