Is There A Path Forward For Coach Caldwell?

[krichunaka]

The desire to traverse in reverse to a couple weeks previous to the "tweaking" stare down, when the Herd lost to Virginia Tech by over forty, is curious. Tech did not defeat the Marshall Plan per se; but rather, the Hokies resoundingly pummeled a grossly over-matched opponent in typical four-v-thirteen fashion. Still, that landslide is sometimes placed front and center as a coaching disparity - in this case, Brooks over Caldwell; even though, we could reasonably assert that Kim, with Tech's players, would've beaten Marshall, coached by Kenny, equally as bad. Or worse. Even without 3-time All-American, Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech was that much better than Marshall.

In the 24-25 SEC match-up, Kenny's Wildcats thrashed Kim's Lady Vols by twenty-plus; and, of course, Tennessee defeated Kentucky in Knoxville, just a couple months ago. So, absent any significant talent disparity, Kim and Kenny are one and one. And, I think that Brooks is a very good coach.

All this to opine that, Kim still possesses the prerequisite acumen for success at Tennessee. However, I would strongly suggest flexibility over obstinacy. Otherwise, that coaching search that some see as the only way forward will begin in earnest around Christmas, '26.

As for this just-completed season, despite our All-American-laden roster, the Lady Vols were not very good.
Because they could not (or would not) shoot!
And, our defense was lackadaisical at best.
And, our offense was ...offensive.
And because, on several occasions we literally had four freshmen on the court. Together. At the same time.

We know where the buck stops. Kim knows. And, she repeatedly said so. And, if we're being completely honest, her ill-advised "quit" statement affirmed what we'd witnessed time and time again. We had a most-unfortunate season to which Kim contributed enough misjudgements and misstatements for a lifetime. But, she did not "destroy the Program." Nor, did Danny White. They couldn't if they tried. And, we know this.

Ironically, the decision that she (or somebody) got right began the malcontent-led topple that resulted in "the worst season in Lady Vols history." A decision, that (IMO), is a major part of the reason that she is still our Coach. Good call (or no call) by the Administration.

Perhaps Kim can grab this lifeline and show enough personal growth and wisdom to salvage her reputation, and her career. She's off to a decent start. For now, however, she's a few players "short."

Cheers.

 

[Scotty4lvs]

I am very very curious to see what this coming season brings. I get the frustrations over "the system" and the long list of complaints about Kim's ways that are being rolled out over and over again on this forum. But...from game 1, there was something glaringly off about this team. At game 1 there was not already frustrations mounted about "the system." And no it wasn't a basket of bad apples and no not everyone was a cancer. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these players went on to do just fine at their next stop. But together as a group, this team for some reason had zero, zilch, no on court chemistry. At all. It was the most un-entertaining basketball I have ever watched...and it wasn't just the system or it would have been the same way the previous year. I got to where I watched games in spite of really not even wanting to, every time hoping this game would be different, and even when they won, it still was just ugh.

So, last year they beat no big name teams other than KY when they were at their low point of the season, and Bama when they were also not at their best. This new group could very well produce a very similar record (obviously other SEC teams are also rebuilding from scratch or close to it) but could at least play in a way that is watchable and enjoyable. KCs year 1 was like that for me. I didn't like the subbing and I feel like there is a ceiling below championship level for her style...but at least I enjoyed most of the games during the first year. I think if she can at least get that piece back, get the vibes going somewhat positive again, then there might be some possibility of a positive move forward. Maybe.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

It’s a new era with one year rosters. Will it work with non-elite players if they all fully commit to the high-effort/frequent subbing thing? That’s what we all want to know. I doubt it more than a year ago but it’s going to be interesting to watch.

 

[RumpleVolskin]

Inquiring minds want to know...no the answer is not at your grocery checkout......I'll support Lady Vols and leave tough decisions to University Heads.

 

[JohnnyJava]

I am very very curious to see what this coming season brings. I get the frustrations over "the system" and the long list of complaints about Kim's ways that are being rolled out over and over again on this forum. But...from game 1, there was something glaringly off about this team. At game 1 there was not already frustrations mounted about "the system." And no it wasn't a basket of bad apples and no not everyone was a cancer. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these players went on to do just fine at their next stop. But together as a group, this team for some reason had zero, zilch, no on court chemistry. At all. It was the most un-entertaining basketball I have ever watched...and it wasn't just the system or it would have been the same way the previous year. I got to where I watched games in spite of really not even wanting to, every time hoping this game would be different, and even when they won, it still was just ugh.

So, last year they beat no big name teams other than KY when they were at their low point of the season, and Bama when they were also not at their best. This new group could very well produce a very similar record (obviously other SEC teams are also rebuilding from scratch or close to it) but could at least play in a way that is watchable and enjoyable. KCs year 1 was like that for me. I didn't like the subbing and I feel like there is a ceiling below championship level for her style...but at least I enjoyed most of the games during the first year. I think if she can at least get that piece back, get the vibes going somewhat positive again, then there might be some possibility of a positive move forward. Maybe.

I'd say that there being something off happened before game 1 when our second best player kicked a door in (or whatever) and followed that up with automobile possession charges (or whatever). An interview I saw with the twins focused on their branding without a lot of team focus or emphasis (small sample size and perhaps that was just the flow of the interview, but it struck me immediately at the time as being off). Cooper's body language never seemed good (her fault, Kim's fault?), Spearman at best stagnated, if not regressed. Kim did some things wrong. I think she will learn (or better!) not to publicly call out her team (especially hyper-sensitive Gen Z folks) for quitting...though that's what they did. Beyond the questions many have about her system (with some tweaking, I think it can work with the right personnel), she may be toxic. We will find out this season whether the problem is largely her and her system, or just a bad matchup of players and coach.

 

[lvocd]

All I know for sure right now is that this promises to shatter the previous record for Longest-Feeling Off-Season Ever. The wait to see what happens may finally drive me allllll the way to Crazy Town this time. I hope for a miracle and that, somehow, even after last season's heartbreaking end, that there will be even more fan support instead of less as some have feared.

As I said a couple of weeks ago, my hope is that Lady Vols fans show up and show out for these young women coming in with such promise and excitement to do their best, and they deserve special support. The best thing ever would be if we averaged more fans at games this coming season than we've had in many years. I want that so much for these new players AND for each other as fans.

 

[lvocd]

Krich, I appreciated your post, but I have made a decision to stop thinking and worrying about our coach and shift focus to our players who need our good vibes.

 

[VOL720]

Please don't think I'm being negative, but her system will not work in the SEC. Once you figure out or sustain the press, you can get easy points. If Tennessee is not making 3s like Alabama men's basketball, then I expect another down season. With no post or inside presence/strategy and relying on 3s is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, I'm wrong but her system is not fit for the SEC or Power 4 conference basketball.

 

[VolatileVol]

The desire to traverse in reverse to a couple weeks previous to the "tweaking" stare down, when the Herd lost to Virginia Tech by over forty, is curious. Tech did not defeat the Marshall Plan per se; but rather, the Hokies resoundingly pummeled a grossly over-matched opponent in typical four-v-thirteen fashion. Still, that landslide is sometimes placed front and center as a coaching disparity - in this case, Brooks over Caldwell; even though, we could reasonably assert that Kim, with Tech's players, would've beaten Marshall, coached by Kenny, equally as bad. Or worse. Even without 3-time All-American, Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech was that much better than Marshall.

In the 24-25 SEC match-up, Kenny's Wildcats thrashed Kim's Lady Vols by twenty-plus; and, of course, Tennessee defeated Kentucky in Knoxville, just a couple months ago. So, absent any significant talent disparity, Kim and Kenny are one and one. And, I think that Brooks is a very good coach.

All this to opine that, Kim still possesses the prerequisite acumen for success at Tennessee. However, I would strongly suggest flexibility over obstinacy. Otherwise, that coaching search that some see as the only way forward will begin in earnest around Christmas, '26.

As for this just-completed season, despite our All-American-laden roster, the Lady Vols were not very good.
Because they could not (or would not) shoot!
And, our defense was lackadaisical at best.
And, our offense was ...offensive.
And because, on several occasions we literally had four freshmen on the court. Together. At the same time.

We know where the buck stops. Kim knows. And, she repeatedly said so. And, if we're being completely honest, her ill-advised "quit" statement affirmed what we'd witnessed time and time again. We had a most-unfortunate season to which Kim contributed enough misjudgements and misstatements for a lifetime. But, she did not "destroy the Program." Nor, did Danny White. They couldn't if they tried. And, we know this.

Ironically, the decision that she (or somebody) got right began the malcontent-led topple that resulted in "the worst season in Lady Vols history." A decision, that (IMO), is a major part of the reason that she is still our Coach. Good call (or no call) by the Administration.

Perhaps Kim can grab this lifeline and show enough personal growth and wisdom to salvage her reputation, and her career. She's off to a decent start. For now, however, she's a few players "short."

Cheers.

Is there a path forward for negavols if/when Kim turns the team around next season is the real question! LOL

 

[ftsandersvol]

Please don't think I'm being negative, but her system will not work in the SEC. Once you figure out or sustain the press, you can get easy points. If Tennessee is not making 3s like Alabama men's basketball, then I expect another down season. With no post or inside presence/strategy and relying on 3s is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, I'm wrong but her system is not fit for the SEC or Power 4 conference basketball.

Basketball is, and always has been, about having a dominant center on your roster to protect the paint. Without that component the odds of winning a championship are almost nil.

 

[RetroVol]

Good post. I've given my answer before: yes, there's a chance, but the odds are against her. So, the rest of this post is really devoted to understanding what we are seeing now.

I think she wavered in her belief in her self last year, and maybe even before. whenever the infamous Plan B decision was Might have let herself get talked into some decisions she regretted as early as recruiting in 2024 and the 2025 portal. But, at this point, cue Frankie singing "New York, New York." She's going to do it her way. May be a year too late. If I'm right and she wavered last year, that was a killer time to falter. But now she's rolling and is going to do the best she can with what she can get the way she knows how.

I hope she's also going to make some improvements, not only in her basketball approach, but in her people approach. Her mom is apparently not as involved with the team as she once was, and a lot of Kim's career has been with coaching sort of being a family activity (Dad as an assistant, Mom as Team Mom). I don't see Kim as a "warm and fuzzy" type, which can be okay, but she needs to figure out how to replace some of the "glue" that may have gone missing from her overall approach.

 

[RespectAPA]

There is, and it's that if her system really is better than the trad systems that other teams are running, then she should be able to take a roster that she's 100% recruited to play it and be generally successful in the conference, and be prepared for March for the chance to make a run. (our 24-25 team, tho they didn't make it, clearly demonstrated that they had that potential in knocking off Ohio State and sticking with Texas)

Because they could not (or would not) shoot!

To that point, there was a moment early in the L'ville game where we were 2-6 from 3 [not bad, especially since it's possible that one of the 4 misses may have been rebounded] and coach practically yelled at the girls to stop shooting 3s early in a possession. So it's not entirely on the players, the coach herself saw what she had and wanted to reform her offense away from what had worked for her, and got burnt bad this year for it.

 

[volfan102455]

Is there a path forward for negavols if/when Kim turns the team around next season is the real question! LOL

It depends upon the definition of success. I would have expected CKC to be competing for the SEC championship and be back firmly in the top 10 in her third year.

Given what happened this year some will define "turn around" as 8-8 or 10-6. A lot of the SEC teams are facing challenges so that will factor into next year.

I believe there is a ceiling to what her system can achieve and with her we will remain in the 8 to10 win range in the SEC. That was not good enough for Holly or Kellie - it should not be good enough for CKC. But for some of you winning that many SEC games would be classified as "turning it around".

 

[alexvol]

The desire to traverse in reverse to a couple weeks previous to the "tweaking" stare down, when the Herd lost to Virginia Tech by over forty, is curious. Tech did not defeat the Marshall Plan per se; but rather, the Hokies resoundingly pummeled a grossly over-matched opponent in typical four-v-thirteen fashion. Still, that landslide is sometimes placed front and center as a coaching disparity - in this case, Brooks over Caldwell; even though, we could reasonably assert that Kim, with Tech's players, would've beaten Marshall, coached by Kenny, equally as bad. Or worse. Even without 3-time All-American, Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech was that much better than Marshall.

In the 24-25 SEC match-up, Kenny's Wildcats thrashed Kim's Lady Vols by twenty-plus; and, of course, Tennessee defeated Kentucky in Knoxville, just a couple months ago. So, absent any significant talent disparity, Kim and Kenny are one and one. And, I think that Brooks is a very good coach.

All this to opine that, Kim still possesses the prerequisite acumen for success at Tennessee. However, I would strongly suggest flexibility over obstinacy. Otherwise, that coaching search that some see as the only way forward will begin in earnest around Christmas, '26.

As for this just-completed season, despite our All-American-laden roster, the Lady Vols were not very good.
Because they could not (or would not) shoot!
And, our defense was lackadaisical at best.
And, our offense was ...offensive.
And because, on several occasions we literally had four freshmen on the court. Together. At the same time.

We know where the buck stops. Kim knows. And, she repeatedly said so. And, if we're being completely honest, her ill-advised "quit" statement affirmed what we'd witnessed time and time again. We had a most-unfortunate season to which Kim contributed enough misjudgements and misstatements for a lifetime. But, she did not "destroy the Program." Nor, did Danny White. They couldn't if they tried. And, we know this.

Ironically, the decision that she (or somebody) got right began the malcontent-led topple that resulted in "the worst season in Lady Vols history." A decision, that (IMO), is a major part of the reason that she is still our Coach. Good call (or no call) by the Administration.

Perhaps Kim can grab this lifeline and show enough personal growth and wisdom to salvage her reputation, and her career. She's off to a decent start. For now, however, she's a few players "short."

Cheers.

Certainly there is a path forward but some boulders have to be shoved out of the way .....

 

[VolatileVol]

It depends upon the definition of success. I would have expected CKC to be competing for the SEC championship and be back firmly in the top 10 in her third year.

Given what happened this year some will define "turn around" as 8-8 or 10-6. A lot of the SEC teams are facing challenges so that will factor into next year.

I believe there is a ceiling to what her system can achieve and with her we will remain in the 8 to10 win range in the SEC. That was not good enough for Holly or Kellie - it should not be good enough for CKC. But for some of you winning that many SEC games would be classified as "turning it around".

How many more games you reckon Holly and Kellie would have lost each season if Oklahoma and Texas were competing in the SEC against them?! Things change, Mox. We have been a 2nd tier SEC team for a while. Expecting an SEC championship is little more than wishful thinking at this point in time.

 

[KTrain]

Please don't think I'm being negative, but her system will not work in the SEC. Once you figure out or sustain the press, you can get easy points. If Tennessee is not making 3s like Alabama men's basketball, then I expect another down season. With no post or inside presence/strategy and relying on 3s is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, I'm wrong but her system is not fit for the SEC or Power 4 conference basketball.

Now that's the way to come out and be Positive....BRAVO, you just showed all those negative ppl how to roll.

 

[AllVols3]

Please don't think I'm being negative, but her system will not work in the SEC. Once you figure out or sustain the press, you can get easy points. If Tennessee is not making 3s like Alabama men's basketball, then I expect another down season. With no post or inside presence/strategy and relying on 3s is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, I'm wrong but her system is not fit for the SEC or Power 4 conference basketball.

Iyo, time will tell forsure.

 

[Orange Maniac]

Of course there is a path forward. It's called winning. If she doesn't win, she will be shown the door. If she does win, she will become Queen Kimmie. She's the coach so the ball is in her hands.

 

[volfan102455]

How many more games you reckon Holly and Kellie would have lost each season if Oklahoma and Texas were competing in the SEC against them?! Things change, Mox. We have been a 2nd tier SEC team for a while. Expecting an SEC championship is little more than wishful thinking at this point in time.

I really don't get the excuse making for CKC. I don't. She was brought here to win championships. Success should be defined as winning championships not being middle of the pack because the conference is too hard.

 

[VolatileVol]

I really don't get the excuse making for CKC. I don't. She was brought here to win championships. Success should be defined as winning championships not being middle of the pack because the conference is too hard.

I am offering another point of view. You seem to be trying to utilize apples and oranges from one year to the next in managing your own expectations. Nobody expected Pruitt to win a ship in 3 years when he took over football. We just wanted him to get our players back up to the proper size and competitive enough to handoff to a real coach a couple years later. I think Pruitt was a much better coach than Heupel, but things happen and you make the best of what you got. I'll continue to support Heupel even though I knew what his ceiling was 5 years ago.

 

[Volfan2012]

Her path forward seems to be being able to realize that some of the system she uses will not work against SEC teams. Firm believer that every team must have player defined roles. Firm believer that you need to find your top eight or nine players and play them most of the game. Subbing to many kills momentum and also lowers talent level on the floor. It is not a factor against Mid Majors, but against P4 teams can be the difference between winning and losing. Defined roles make players play to their strengths not let them play to a weakness. Three point shooters are efficient in making them and you don't want players that are weak shooting them. If your strengths are rebounding and scoring inside then that is where you need to be playing and taking shots.
We've had way to much of players doing things they are not capable of doing in her five out.

 

[Rooster1]

Basketball is, and always has been, about having a dominant center on your roster to protect the paint. Without that component the odds of winning a championship are almost nil.

See UConn. Apparently “almost nil” is indeed greater than zero.

 

[RespectAPA]

With no post or inside presence/strategy and relying on 3s is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, I'm wrong but her system is not fit for the SEC or Power 4 conference basketball.

In year 1, our offensive rating was the highest it had been since the 34-3 2010-11 season.

It's not just relying on threes, it's threes and attacking the boards for rebounds. If you get rebounds, you'll outshoot your opponent, and it's generally hard to get beat when you're outshooting your opponent.

Yeah, we had Jewel that year, but Jewel was only about 1/3rd of our attempts, Samara was 1/3rd and she was only 29%, Cooper was 1/4th and she was only 22%, and then Tess was 1/5th, but even she was only 34% (this year, Cooper and Barker were both higher than that), and then Zee and Ruby were 1/6th of them and both only 28%, so it's not like we did fantastic shooting 3s, but as long as you're trying to rebound, you don't need to hav a 40% shooting team top to bottom to succeed putting up perimeter shots.

 

[Rooster1]

All of this conversation got me interested in the difference between team numbers for these past two teams:

*34 games in 2024-25 and 30 games in 2025-26. All numbers are 2024-25 first, 2025-26 next

Offensive points per game: 87.2 vs. 77.0
Rebounds/game: 40.7 vs. 39.4
Assist/game: 15.6 vs. 13.7
Steals/game: 11.4 vs. 10.4
TO/game: 14.4 vs. 15.5
FG%: 43.8% vs. 41.3%
FT%: 68.9% vs. 67%
3P%: 32.6% vs. 31.0%
FG attempted/game: 68.0 vs. 65.1
Opp FG attempted/game: 59.5 vs. 59.4
Defensive points allowed per game: 69.6 vs. 70.1

Worth noting, the 2024-25 team was better at every single category, although only slightly in many categories except for the offensive PPG which was 10.2 PPG higher for 24-25 squad. I do note that the 2024-25 team had the easier schedule according to metrics so that should be taken into consideration.

Probably what surprised me the most however was that I was expecting larger discrepancies between the two teams in many cases. It is odd that this past LV team did not post better numbers in any category however. Just something to ponder, but the schedule differences likely played a larger role than these stats indicate. Otherwise not big differences between the two seasons surprisingly outside of the PPG scored. The slight shooting % disparity between the teams seem to have had a larger impact than one would have thought. My early prediction is that shooting % will increase offensively, esp for 3P’s, but opposing shooting %’s and rebounds will likely increase also, hence why I could see a lot of shootouts next season.

 

[SummittSoul]

All of this conversation got me interested in the difference in team numbers between the past two teams:

*34 games in 2024-25 and 30 games in 2025-26. All numbers are 2024-25 first, 2025-26 next

Offensive points per game: 87.2 vs. 77.0
Rebounds/game: 40.7 vs. 39.4
Assist/game: 15.6 vs. 13.7
Steals/game: 11.4 vs. 10.4
TO/game: 14.4 vs. 15.5
FG%: 43.8% vs. 41.3%
FT%: 68.9% vs. 67%
3P%: 32.6% vs. 31.0%
FG attempted/game: 68.0 vs. 65.1
Opp FG attempted/game: 59.5 vs. 59.4
Defensive points allowed per game: 69.6 vs. 70.1

Worth noting, the 2024-25 teams was better at every single category, although only slightly in many categories except for the offensive PPG which was 10.2 PPG lower. I do note that the 2024-25 teams had the easier schedule according to metrics so that should be taken into consideration. Probably what surprised me the most however was that I was expecting larger discrepancies between the two teams in many cases. It is odd that this past LV did not post better numbers in any category however. Just something to ponder, but the schedule differences likely played a role in these numbers, but otherwise not big differences between the two seasons surprisingly outside of the PPG scored.

Interesting indeed. I expected larger variances here as well.