Help us Lady Vol Alumnas: you’re our only hope.

[Undercovervol]

Many posters have expressed the opinion in various threads that the UT administration and/or Phil Fulmer either do not care enough to make a change or don’t want to spend the money on a new/good coach. I think there’s an element of truth to both of these, even in our progressive days when society has made a new effort to value women. However, I think we’ve all forgotten that there is a large network of Lady Vols who played for Pat Summitt, some of whom are quite notable, like Kara Lawson and Tamika Catchings. Surely these players have noticed the decline in the program and will let their opinions be known to Fulmer? Fulmer can’t ignore these hypothetical opinions, can he? Kara Lawson is even directly tied to the University. I can’t imagine that she’d be silent on this, even if Warlick was her coach.

 

[djohnnyg]

If Fulmer doesn't have the guts to do what is necessary then he needs to quit this job ASAP. Yeah...this is part of the job. You have to make the tough decisions the job demands. I don't give a rats red rip that he's a vfl or not. This is an important job that requires a person with the guts to sometimes fire people. If he finds that too distasteful then HE needs to be removed and we'll go on honoring him for all his past contributions etc and everything's fine. But DO YOUR JOB....or GET OUT....and leave it to somebody who can handle ALL its aspects if you don't have the guts. This job of AD wasn't granted to him as an honorary title. It's real. Everyone knows it's waaaay past time to fire Holly. Fulmer is being negligent and not taking action is a dereliction of duty.

 

[chuck0303]

If Fulmer doesn't have the guts to do what is necessary then he needs to quit this job ASAP. Yeah...this is part of the job. You have to make the tough decisions the job demands. I don't give a rats red rip that he's a vfl or not. This is an important job that requires a person with the guts to sometimes fire people. If he finds that too distasteful then HE needs to be removed and we'll go on honoring him for all his past contributions etc and everything's fine. But DO YOUR JOB....or GET OUT....and leave it to somebody who can handle ALL its aspects if you don't have the guts. This job of AD wasn't granted to him as an honorary title. It's real. Everyone knows it's waaaay past time to fire Holly. Fulmer is being negligent and not taking action is a dereliction of duty.

Amen! I think a lot of interested donors would have to apply enough pressure on Fulmer to get him to do his job and make the change. Surely they can find a decent coach to replace her.

 

[Spook1]

If Fulmer doesn't have the guts to do what is necessary then he needs to quit this job ASAP. Yeah...this is part of the job. You have to make the tough decisions the job demands. I don't give a rats red rip that he's a vfl or not. This is an important job that requires a person with the guts to sometimes fire people. If he finds that too distasteful then HE needs to be removed and we'll go on honoring him for all his past contributions etc and everything's fine. But DO YOUR JOB....or GET OUT....and leave it to somebody who can handle ALL its aspects if you don't have the guts. This job of AD wasn't granted to him as an honorary title. It's real. Everyone knows it's waaaay past time to fire Holly. Fulmer is being negligent and not taking action is a dereliction of duty.

Amen! Amen! Amen! Fulmer kept football coaches that no one else wanted and failed to cut them loose...eventually it cost him his job. My only fear in Fulmer as AD was that he absolutely would not do anything with CHW...the situation is so bad that something has to be done now...not the end of the season either. I strongly favor Kara Lawson. She could turn the situation around quickly. The coaching situation on the LV is so bad that even Coach Barnes has been helping one of the players.

 

[feathersax]

Amen! Amen! Amen! Fulmer kept football coaches that no one else wanted and failed to cut them loose...eventually it cost him his job. My only fear in Fulmer as AD was that he absolutely would not do anything with CHW...the situation is so bad that something has to be done now...not the end of the season either. I strongly favor Kara Lawson. She could turn the situation around quickly. The coaching situation on the LV is so bad that even Coach Barnes has been helping one of the players.

Seen lots of VN posts endorsing Kara Lawson as HC for Lady Vols. Just what is her coaching background/experience? Holly was never a head coach, after all...how'd that turn out?

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Seen lots of VN posts endorsing Kara Lawson as HC for Lady Vols. Just what is her coaching background/experience? Holly was never a head coach, after all...how'd that turn out?

Kara has no head coaching experience in the NCAA ranks, however, her intelligence and basketball IQ is very high. She was a great player to watch College and Pro and her Analysis of Professional Games is some of the best out there. If Holly and Kara changed places...IMO...Kara would Excell and Holly would Fail.

 

[morristown vol]

Fulmer knows.Let the season play out.

 

[TJSVOLS]

Kara has no head coaching experience in the NCAA ranks, however, her intelligence and basketball IQ is very high. She was a great player to watch College and Pro and her Analysis of Professional Games is some of the best out there. If Holly and Kara changed places...IMO...Kara would Excell and Holly would Fail.

Not saying she would or wouldn't be a good head coach but having a good knowledge of the game and being a good head coach are a lot different, and Tn really doesn't need someone learning on the job right now.

 

[gule]

Coach J has good knowledge of the game.... let him do it!

 

[jeff1vol]

IMO... why risk what's left of the programs reputation among wbball and hire a person that has ZERO HC experience??? Just because she played here and she's smart??? I'm glad some of you aren't AD's.
This program DESPERATELY NEEDS a coach with experience and a history of a high level of success with x's and o's.
Again, IMO... the thing THIS team has lacked for several years is a REAL offensive/defensive identity and a CHAMPIONSHIP attitude and/or mentality.
We need a coach and staff that can recruit BASKETBALL players rather than athletes that play bball. You know... ladies that can actually shoot well and make layups? I don't see many ladies currently on this team that stand out and make you say "Now THERE is a player!!".
They are woefully undercoached.

 

[RollerVol]

Fulmer knows.Let the season play out.

have a feeling if you try to put pressure on Coach/AD Fulmer he'll show you how the cow ate the cabbage...

GO LADY VOLS!

 

[Coach Jumper]

Coach J has good knowledge of the game.... let him do it!

I don't struggle reading ANY players, I will immediately impact effort,,,I am a fundamentals fiend (Developed training methods while with the GA Pistols for 10 years as the 13-15 yr old girls developmental coach...Anyone who knows coaching girls knows this is an age group that confuses most coaches),,,I have over 400 drills in my coaching database...37 total years on the court.

Most importantly, I am in Knoxville and available immediately.

CHW, you've judged me having never met me,
I can be there tomorrow

 

[brassie]

I don't struggle reading ANY players, I will immediately impact effort,,,I am a fundamentals fiend (Developed training methods while with the GA Pistols for 10 years as the 13-15 yr old girls developmental coach...Anyone who knows coaching girls knows this is an age group that confuses most coaches),,,I have over 400 drills in my coaching database...37 total years on the court.

Most importantly, I am in Knoxville and available immediately.

CHW, you've judged me having never met me,
I can be there tomorrow

How many years as a D1 head/asst coach? What schools?

 

[Rickster]

Living the dream

 

[Coach Jumper]

How many years as a D1 head/asst coach? What schools?

I am an AAU and exposure level coach... Never had the opportunity to coach in collegiate environment. Life happened.
Never gave up the ambition though.

Am I ready to Head Coach a team as far as NCAA criteria,,,no.
There are a mile of things I don't know and would have to learn about the collegiate environment.

Practices and game environments...37 years of preparation.

Would the environment overwhelm me?
I have had to learn speed-teaching skills.
AAU is win or go home basketball...So keeping the foot on the pedal is the norm.

brassie, it's not about pedigree right now,, it's about whats missing.
Players fundamental skills improving
Offense flow
Reaching the hard to read/reach players (finding that "button")
Communication across the board.

These are thing I am good at.
If it's failure and success at other schools you're looking for, you'll overlook me the first time.

It always comes back to "what's needed"...May not overlook me a second.

What's needed is someone to bring this vision into one focus.

 

[Amb3096]

We need a coach and staff that can recruit BASKETBALL players rather than athletes that play bball. You know... ladies that can actually shoot well and make layups? I don't see many ladies currently on this team that stand out and make you say "Now THERE is a player!!".
They are woefully undercoached.

I see them every year. Westbrook and Davis this year, Nared last year, Diamond before that, Cierra Burdick and Ariel Massengale before that. I'm sure I've missed others.

Like you said, they are woefully undercoached. It's not the recruiting that's the problem; it's what they do with the recruits once they get here.

Case in point - Maya Moore and Crystal Dangerfield weren't much of 3-point shooters in HS, but they developed that part of their game in college. Why can't Holly and staff do the same?

 

[VolAmerican]

I see them every year. Westbrook and Davis this year, Nared last year, Diamond before that, Cierra Burdick and Ariel Massengale before that. I'm sure I've missed others.

Like you said, they are woefully undercoached. It's not the recruiting that's the problem; it's what they do with the recruits once they get here.

Case in point - Maya Moore and Crystal Dangerfield weren't much of 3-point shooters in HS, but they developed that part of their game in college. Why can't Holly and staff do the same?

Right, CHW totally relies on her players talents, that they currently possess. Not much if any development is taking place, and if it is or was, it sure isn't translating to the court.

 

[cutiepie5]

I don't struggle reading ANY players, I will immediately impact effort,,,I am a fundamentals fiend (Developed training methods while with the GA Pistols for 10 years as the 13-15 yr old girls developmental coach...Anyone who knows coaching girls knows this is an age group that confuses most coaches),,,I have over 400 drills in my coaching database...37 total years on the court.

Most importantly, I am in Knoxville and available immediately.

CHW, you've judged me having never met me,
I can be there tomorrow

You’d DEFINITELY be better than what we have now. Definitely couldn’t do any worse. Where do we sign? #Petition Lol

P.s.—I coached against the Georgia Pistols at Nationals many moons ago. Small world.

 

[lvocd]

Seen lots of VN posts endorsing Kara Lawson as HC for Lady Vols. Just what is her coaching background/experience? Holly was never a head coach, after all...how'd that turn out?

I would whole-heartedly endorse the idea of hiring Kara as a mid-season replacement coach on an interim basis -- until a permanent replacement was hired in the off-season. Thing is, Kara has demonstrated her coaching ability while heading up the 3x3 U18 USA basketball squad to the World Championship. All reports out of that gig were that Kara was an amazing coach.

We've all heard her on TV making extremely intelligent comments and suggestions for adjustments, plays, etc. Her basketball brain is so impressive that she is often referred to as one of the best in the business.

Holly does NOT have a good brain for basketball. She has an excellent brain for understanding the intersocial aspects of sport -- an important quality for a great assistant -- but the technical side of basketball flies over the top of her head. And it always has. She did not magically become an analytical thinker capable of devising schemes and plays the day she took over the Big Chair, and she'll never be that kind of coach. NEVER. It is not in her DNA.

Kara, on the other hand, IS that kind of thinker. And right now, I believe someone of her intellect could very quickly improve the performance of this particular group of Lady Vols -- at least enough to get them safely into the NCAA Tournament so as to not blow the last truly amazing streak they still own.

Kara, as an interim coach, wouldn't have to worry about recruiting for the rest of the season. The rest of the staff could continue to handle that. Kara's main goal would have to be to teach the team a few new tricks that she herself has learned through YEARS of obsessive analysis AND personal experience.

I simply cannot think of anyone I'd trust more to finish out this season than I'd trust Kara.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

I see them every year. Westbrook and Davis this year, Nared last year, Diamond before that, Cierra Burdick and Ariel Massengale before that. I'm sure I've missed others.

Like you said, they are woefully undercoached. It's not the recruiting that's the problem; it's what they do with the recruits once they get here.

Case in point - Maya Moore and Crystal Dangerfield weren't much of 3-point shooters in HS, but they developed that part of their game in college. Why can't Holly and staff do the same?

Exactly!!! Everything can be coached.... though I see many who want to put arms up and blame the players.... shooting can be coached free throw shooting can be coached.... hustle and effort can be coached... it is all on the task wish list of the suggested names on this thread...

And I must say.... how can we demand head coaching experience from Coach Jumper, while throwing Kara's name in the hat knowing she has no coaching experience.... Just saying... I love Kara... smart basketball mind... but I like logic also... only 3 years ago or so many were clamoring for Tyler Summitt as the savior

 

[mlindsay]

I would whole-heartedly endorse the idea of hiring Kara as a mid-season replacement coach on an interim basis -- until a permanent replacement was hired in the off-season. Thing is, Kara has demonstrated her coaching ability while heading up the 3x3 U18 USA basketball squad to the World Championship. All reports out of that gig were that Kara was an amazing coach.

We've all heard her on TV making extremely intelligent comments and suggestions for adjustments, plays, etc. Her basketball brain is so impressive that she is often referred to as one of the best in the business.

Holly does NOT have a good brain for basketball. She has an excellent brain for understanding the intersocial aspects of sport -- an important quality for a great assistant -- but the technical side of basketball flies over the top of her head. And it always has. She did not magically become an analytical thinker capable of devising schemes and plays the day she took over the Big Chair, and she'll never be that kind of coach. NEVER. It is not in her DNA.

Kara, on the other hand, IS that kind of thinker. And right now, I believe someone of her intellect could very quickly improve the performance of this particular group of Lady Vols -- at least enough to get them safely into the NCAA Tournament so as to not blow the last truly amazing streak they still own.

Kara, as an interim coach, wouldn't have to worry about recruiting for the rest of the season. The rest of the staff could continue to handle that. Kara's main goal would have to be to teach the team a few new tricks that she herself has learned through YEARS of obsessive analysis AND personal experience.

I simply cannot think of anyone I'd trust more to finish out this season than I'd trust Kara.

Does she have to be hired to do that? Couldn’t Holly just reach out to her and ask her to stop by a couple of practices? Has she (Holly) reached out to. Coach Barnes as he has the #3 team in the Mens game on the same campus! In press conferences she keeps saying she doesn’t know/have an answer and if that is the case ask for help!

 

[meyers7]

Coach J has good knowledge of the game.... let him do it!

I don't struggle reading ANY players, I will immediately impact effort,,,I am a fundamentals fiend (Developed training methods while with the GA Pistols for 10 years as the 13-15 yr old girls developmental coach...Anyone who knows coaching girls knows this is an age group that confuses most coaches),,,I have over 400 drills in my coaching database...37 total years on the court.

Most importantly, I am in Knoxville and available immediately.

CHW, you've judged me having never met me,
I can be there tomorrow

Living the dream

Yes. Oh Yes.

If Warlick is not offered a 20 year extension, then I'm all in for Coach J.

 

[lvocd]

Does she have to be hired to do that? Couldn’t Holly just reach out to her and ask her to stop by a couple of practices? Has she (Holly) reached out to. Coach Barnes as he has the #3 team in the Mens game on the same campus! In press conferences she keeps saying she doesn’t know/have an answer and if that is the case ask for help!

That might help if she had time to fit that into her extremely busy schedule. However, that still wouldn't address the game-time needs. As you mentioned, Holly has come right out and said herself, tens of times in post-game interviews, that she "doesn't know what to do." Her honesty is refreshing, but it has helped nearly everyone feel less bad about thinking about getting an upgrade to a coach who, at the very LEAST, will be able to competently identify problems and, at BEST, be capable of solving them while the game is still going on. The ever-present "we have to go back and fix a few things" promise has been broken so many times it's now something that no-one even hears anymore. In seven years, Holly has shown no improvement in either understanding or solving the issues that keep the team in a broken-record cycle of underachievement.

Tennessee needs a coach whom the players can turn to during a tough game with utter confidence that she or he has a GOOD PLAN for helping them get the ball inbounded properly, a few needed baskets, or a sure-fire way to get a needed stop on defense. Currently the players don't feel confident in the staff (obvious by both play and body language), and that effects their self-confidence.

 

[Rickster]

Ex-lady Vol players will understand that, if a coaching change is required, it will be the job of the AD. The AD may ask for input but I expect the relevant input will be provided by the play of the team.

As far as the replacement is concerned, if that is the route they take, I hope that the replacement is identified and locked in before the announcement so the transition will be instantaneous. A change of this magnitude will affect the lives of many and not just a couple of people so it has to be a sound and thought-out decision. Not the time for a knee jerk decision.

If a replacement is determined to be required, that person must not only be a great coach but a great administrator as well. This will not be amateur hour. The new person will probably clean house and bring their own people in. They will want people who understand their system and will have demonstrated loyalty. That new team will require time to implement their system and get the players trained.

Unlike football, a turnaround can occur quickly if there is talent, coaching and willingness of the players to learn and execute the new system but it can take a couple of years also. I doubt there is enough patience on this site for a prolonged turnaround. Many of the posters on this site turned into Negas during season 1.

 

[feathersax]

I don't struggle reading ANY players, I will immediately impact effort,,,I am a fundamentals fiend (Developed training methods while with the GA Pistols for 10 years as the 13-15 yr old girls developmental coach...Anyone who knows coaching girls knows this is an age group that confuses most coaches),,,I have over 400 drills in my coaching database...37 total years on the court.

Most importantly, I am in Knoxville and available immediately.

CHW, you've judged me having never met me,
I can be there tomorrow

You are hired... well, in my opinion.