Would you like to see Kim Caldwell Retained?(Poll)

[1reVOLver]

Google AI Persists in overlooking Lisa Bluder's retirement. MISSING IS S. RUECK.

Based on information available as of March 2026, here is a list of active NCAA Division I women’s basketball head coaches who have participated in the NCAA Final Four as head coaches:

• Geno Auriemma (Connecticut)
• Kim Mulkey (LSU)
• Dawn Staley (South Carolina)
• Jeff Walz (Louisville)
• Brenda Frese (Maryland)
• Vic Schaefer (Texas)
• Lisa Bluder (Iowa)
• Kelly Graves (Oregon)
• Adia Barnes (SMU/Arizona). Not as HC
• Lindsay Gottlieb (USC)
• Cori Close (UCLA)
• Kenny Brooks (Kentucky/Virginia Tech)
• Wes Moore (NC State)
  ESPN +6

Note: This list includes active coaches at the start of the 2025-26 season who have achieved a Final Four appearance at any point in their head coaching careers, according to NCAA tournament records and confirmed active status in March 2026.

 

[1reVOLver]

Vic isn’t going anywhere. Wes is great, but he isn’t the same level as a Walz. And Walz seems like $ is important to him based upon past inquiries. UT wouldn’t need to pay him $3m but something close would do the job imo. UT should always be one of the top paying jobs in WBB. He is clearly in the top 5-6 coaches in the sport.

The problem is that each and every coach on the list of FF HCs has “issues”.
I agree that Walz may be the best of those potentially available.
What's your take on Rueck, also mysteriously not on the list?

 

[1reVOLver]

And the moral of the story is…wash behind your ears, eat your vegetables, and don’t trust AI!

“
Why isn't Rueck on the list?
Scott Rueck is an active NCAA Division I head coach as of March 2026, and he didlead Oregon State to the NCAA Final Four in 2016. He was in the NCAA tournament as of March 2025 and is still coaching in the 2025-26 season.
Wikipedia +1
If he was omitted from a specific, narrower list (such as "active coaches currentlywith a top-10 program" or "active coaches still employed by their original Final Four school," though he is still at OSU), it is usually because he is considered a "mid-major" coach following Oregon State's move to the West Coast Conference.
Wikipedia
However, based on the strict criteria of (1) Active Head Coach, (2) NCAA Div I, (3) Final Four Appearance, Scott Rueck belongs on that list.”

I call BS. HE IS, AND HAS BEEN DIV I. But Div I was NOT among the original query
criteria. And, FWIW, Ct could be considered a mid-major based on conference affiliation.

 

[BowlBrother85]

As I recall, White made his way to Kim Caldwell pretty early on in the search. I think we made calls to USC and Indiana .... but that was it before we were on the phone with Kim Caldwell from Marshall. This hire is his baby .... I can't see him moving on from it so quickly. I think she gets another year.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

As I recall, White made his way to Kim Caldwell pretty early on in the search. I think we made calls to USC and Indiana .... but that was it before we were on the phone with Kim Caldwell from Marshall. This hire is his baby .... I can't see him moving on from it so quickly. I think she gets another year.

Yeah she's getting year 3 IMO.... only way she doesn't is if she has done something illegal like bet on games

 

[Lucy]

Who exactly do you think would want this job after firing her?

I understand that a two year leash is short but I can imagine a lot of good D1 coaches have; looked at our talent, looked at the “system”, know our program history, facilities, fan base and financial support and think I believe I could have done better with that.

 

[Rooster1]

The problem is that each and every coach on the list of FF HCs has “issues”.
I agree that Walz may be the best of those potentially available.
What's your take on Rueck, also mysteriously not on the list?

Rueck is an amazing coach, seems wedded to his alma mater in spite of (due to?) them getting shafted by the PAC12. I may have brought this up before, OSU and WSU are in full control of the “new” PAC conference starting next season, sounds complicated.

But Walz is even more accomplished, and he may be able to be bought, which at this stage is what is needed. UT needs to raid another school for a top tier Coach and Walz looks like a doable target if UT will spend. And why wouldn’t they spend? Time to get the LV program back to being a pack leader and not a follower. If SC can spend $4m on a coach surely UT could spend $2.5-2.75 to land a top 5-6 coach in the sport. Walz would have to seriously consider a $1m raise….make him say no.

 

[Rooster1]

I understand that a two year leash is short but I can imagine a lot of good D1 coaches have; looked at our talent, looked at the “system”, know our program history, facilities, fan base and financial support and think I believe I could have done better with that.

 

[StorrsCentral]

View attachment 820297

Carly Thibault-DuDonis
(Fairfield)

• Winning Record: The fastest-rising mid-major star, she led Fairfield to a historic 31–1 record in 2024 and maintained that elite status in 2026.
• Defense & Offense: Her teams uniquely rank in the national top 10 for both scoring defense and offensive efficiency and known for finding diamonds in the rough.

LOL, I mentioned her last year before the decision was made to hire Caldwell. The daughter of former WNBA coach Mike Thibault.

 

[StorrsCentral]

Google AI Persists in overlooking Lisa Bluder's retirement. MISSING IS S. RUECK.

Based on information available as of March 2026, here is a list of active NCAA Division I women’s basketball head coaches who have participated in the NCAA Final Four as head coaches:

• Geno Auriemma (Connecticut)
• Kim Mulkey (LSU)
• Dawn Staley (South Carolina)
• Jeff Walz (Louisville)
• Brenda Frese (Maryland)
• Vic Schaefer (Texas)
• Lisa Bluder (Iowa)
• Kelly Graves (Oregon)
• Adia Barnes (SMU/Arizona). Not as HC
• Lindsay Gottlieb (USC)
• Cori Close (UCLA)
• Kenny Brooks (Kentucky/Virginia Tech)
• Wes Moore (NC State)
  ESPN +6

Note: This list includes active coaches at the start of the 2025-26 season who have achieved a Final Four appearance at any point in their head coaching careers, according to NCAA tournament records and confirmed active status in March 2026.

Barnes was the HC at Arizona when they beat UConn in the final four.

 

[1reVOLver]

Barnes was the HC at Arizona when they beat UConn in the final four.

Yes, I have gone back and forth with google AI to add and subtract names. This appears ok, but corrections are invited.

Active Head Coaches with Final Four Experience (as of March 2026)

• Geno Auriemma (UConn): 24 appearances
• Kim Mulkey (LSU): 5 appearances (4 at Baylor, 1 at LSU)
• Dawn Staley (South Carolina): 7 appearances
• Jeff Walz (Louisville): 4 appearances
• Brenda Frese (Maryland): 3 appearances
• Vic Schaefer (Texas): 3 appearances (2 at Miss. State, 1 at Texas)
• Cori Close (UCLA): 1 appearance (2025)
• Adia Barnes (Arizona): 1 appearance (2021)
• Lindsay Gottlieb (California/USC): 1 appearance (2013)
• Wes Moore (NC State): 1 appearance (2024)
• Kelly Graves (Oregon): 1 appearance (2019)
• Kenny Brooks (Virginia Tech/Kentucky): 1 appearance (2023)
• Scott Rueck (Oregon State): 1 appearance (2016)

 

[lvocd]

You might add Wes Moore and Vic Shaefer to the short list, but toss in some extra $$$.

Vic Schaefer? I don’t think there’s enough money in the world that could pull Vic Schaefer, especially at his age, away from coaching his dream school in his home town. Same with Kim Mulkey and Louisiana.

It’s comical that people bring those names up.

 

[vols90]

Vic Schaefer? I don’t think there’s enough money in the world that could pull Vic Schaefer, especially at his age, away from coaching his dream school in his home town. Same with Kim Mulkey and Louisiana.

It’s comical that people bring those names up.

I still say Mulkey would be interested in being the coach that brought Tennessee back. But yeah, I don’t think she’d leave Louisiana now though. We missed our chance with her

 

[1reVOLver]

Vic Schaefer? I don’t think there’s enough money in the world that could pull Vic Schaefer, especially at his age, away from coaching his dream school in his home town. Same with Kim Mulkey and Louisiana.

It’s comical that people bring those names up.

I gave google AI a simple query (that it screwed up numerous times):
Ncaa ff experience as a head coach
+
Currently employed as a head coach

As I wrote earlier, there are issues with every name on the list.

Age, cost, unwillingness to move, irrational dislike by some fans, etc.

It is a list. Make of it what you will.



Edited to add: Do you think CKC is a better coach than anyone on that list?


Active Head Coaches with Final Four Experience (as of March 2026)

• Geno Auriemma (UConn): 24 appearances
• Kim Mulkey (LSU): 5 appearances (4 at Baylor, 1 at LSU)
• Dawn Staley (South Carolina): 7 appearances
• Jeff Walz (Louisville): 4 appearances
• Brenda Frese (Maryland): 3 appearances
• Vic Schaefer (Texas): 3 appearances (2 at Miss. State, 1 at Texas)
• Cori Close (UCLA): 1 appearance (2025)
• Adia Barnes (Arizona): 1 appearance (2021)
• Lindsay Gottlieb (California/USC): 1 appearance (2013)
• Wes Moore (NC State): 1 appearance (2024)
• Kelly Graves (Oregon): 1 appearance (2019)
• Kenny Brooks (Virginia Tech/Kentucky): 1 appearance (2023)
• Scott Rueck (Oregon State): 1 appearance (2016)

 

[chuckiepoo]

Ct could be considered a mid-major based on conference affiliation.

Zing!

 

[1reVOLver]

Zing!

That a good Zing! or a “Zing! Get offa my grass or I zap you wid da lazer” zing?

 

[chuckiepoo]

That a good Zing! or a “Zing! Get offa my grass or I zap you wid da lazer” zing?

Good zing! Levity, as I’m pretty sure it was intended. I carry no electronic weapons …

 

[1reVOLver]

I carry no electronic weapons …

'cept an occasional keyboard when an elite target of opportunity pokes its widdle head above the parapet…

 

[chuckiepoo]

'cept an occasional keyboard when an elite target of opportunity pokes its widdle head above the parapet…

View attachment 820710

Well … yeah … FDG…

 

[1reVOLver]

Had to look up FDG. hmmm.. falling down giggling? I dunno.

Function Dependence Graph
FDG	Falling Down Giggling
FDG	Front des Gaulois
FDG	Functional Dependency Gate
FDG	Fraud Detection Group
FDG	Forces Démocratiques de la Guyane (French: Guyana Democratic Forces)

 

[chuckiepoo]

Had to look up FDG. hmmm.. falling down giggling? I dunno.

 

[1reVOLver]

Oh well, there are 19 other possibilities in the acronym finder list, but some are
shall we say too full of levity, hence nsfw.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Surprised it wasn’t there in our current political climate. I must note, the board has done an excellent job of steering clear of such matters and focused on the really important stuff!

**** dat guy. Should be there but ain’t. Apparently you can submit abbreviations for consideration to be listed but the site I went to (119 definitions) wanted my email, phone number and SSN of my eldest child.

 

[Rooster1]

Vic Schaefer? I don’t think there’s enough money in the world that could pull Vic Schaefer, especially at his age, away from coaching his dream school in his home town. Same with Kim Mulkey and Louisiana.

It’s comical that people bring those names up.

 

[1reVOLver]

Interesting that nobody has replied to the question.

Do you think CKC is a better coach than anyone on that list?


Active Head Coaches with Final Four Experience (as of March 2026)

• Geno Auriemma (UConn): 24 appearances
• Kim Mulkey (LSU): 5 appearances (4 at Baylor, 1 at LSU)
• Dawn Staley (South Carolina): 7 appearances
• Jeff Walz (Louisville): 4 appearances
• Brenda Frese (Maryland): 3 appearances
• Vic Schaefer (Texas): 3 appearances (2 at Miss. State, 1 at Texas)
• Cori Close (UCLA): 1 appearance (2025)
• Adia Barnes (Arizona): 1 appearance (2021)
• Lindsay Gottlieb (California/USC): 1 appearance (2013)
• Wes Moore (NC State): 1 appearance (2024)
• Kelly Graves (Oregon): 1 appearance (2019)
• Kenny Brooks (Virginia Tech/Kentucky): 1 appearance (2023)
• Scott Rueck (Oregon State): 1 appearance (2016)

So here is a new question. Remove all those you think are unfit, too pricey, unwilling or otherwise not worthy of consideration.

Who with FF experience is left?