Lady Vols Softball Coach Karen

[Majors]

Did the new hitting coach improve our offense?

Depends on what you’re looking at, yes and no.

2024
56 Games played - .290 avg. 1480 AB, 315 Hits, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 299 RBI, 195 walks, 239 K, 84 HR

2025
64 Games played, - .302 avg. 1608 AB, 485 hits, 79 doubles, 19 triples, 344 RBI, 242 walks, 277 K, 73 HR

2025 was better statistically in all categories except strikeouts and home runs. Which 2024 had 38 less strikeouts and 11 more home runs despite 8 less games.

 

[volfanstuckinga]

I'm not saying we should fire her....but what I will say is that the softball program has the same stigma as the basketball program. Always good, never good enough. Not blaming coaches, just making an observation based on data and facts.

 

[Okie]

I'm not saying we should fire her....but what I will say is that the softball program has the same stigma as the basketball program. Always good, never good enough. Not blaming coaches, just making an observation based on data and facts.

That's the challenge so many teams in every sport face. Always close, but never able to get over the hump to the championship. Is it worth making a change in coaches? My recollection of teams that have done that hoping the new person will get them over the hump is that it doesn't work. That could all be different now with the portal and NIL, but it's still a risky move.

 

[Rickster]

That is extremely interesting! If my math is right, 42 championship teams with only five from east of the Mississippi river.

Why doesn't eastern half of USA excel in softball?

They are doing better now. Had a good showing this season.

 

[VolGee4]

I'm not saying we should fire her....but what I will say is that the softball program has the same stigma as the basketball program. Always good, never good enough. Not blaming coaches, just making an observation based on data and facts.

You have to be very careful what you wish for though. You need to be relevant for your fans and your bottom line. TBA sells out every year. The teams have won conference titles and have made deep runs in their national tournaments. That is significant. The journeys have been exciting, and that is part of the process.

 

[volfanstuckinga]

That's the challenge so many teams in every sport face. Always close, but never able to get over the hump to the championship. Is it worth making a change in coaches? My recollection of teams that have done that hoping the new person will get them over the hump is that it doesn't work. That could all be different now with the portal and NIL, but it's still a risky move.

Makes me appreciate Coach Vitello that much more....it CAN be done. And we have the resources.....more teams need to get over this hump...

 

[Jax_Vol]

You have to be very careful what you wish for though. You need to be relevant for your fans and your bottom line. TBA sells out every year. The teams have won conference titles and have made deep runs in their national tournaments. That is significant. The journeys have been exciting, and that is part of the process.

Right!

Learned my lesson from 152-52 Coach Fulmer. We spent the next 10-12 years wandering lost in a wilderness.

Both Coach Karen and Coach Rick will know when the time is right.

 

[EZE]

Good grief...

No doubt. She consistently wins, she and her players represent the University well and she just made the Final Four. That is a very successful season.

I’d like to get over the hump and win it all, too, but a Natty cannot be the only standard.

 

[NATHAN05]

There are some stupid effing posters in here. A bunch of ungrateful narcissistic noobs that know nothing about competition.

10-1 says the OP's first name is also "Karen".......probably got the bob-cut too.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Depends on what you’re looking at, yes and no.

2024
56 Games played - .290 avg. 1480 AB, 315 Hits, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 299 RBI, 195 walks, 239 K, 84 HR

2025
64 Games played, - .302 avg. 1608 AB, 485 hits, 79 doubles, 19 triples, 344 RBI, 242 walks, 277 K, 73 HR

2025 was better statistically in all categories except strikeouts and home runs. Which 2024 had 38 less strikeouts and 11 more home runs despite 8 less games.

Was just wondering since Texas Tech is in the finals

 

[89 VOLS grad]

Former player as in former Lady Vol or former player in general?

Whoever is the most qualified to get UT to the NC series and win it! Of course, it is always preferrable to have a former Lady Vol! But, I am sure the followers of the baseball team could care less where Vitello played considering his success!

 

[Buzzbait]

Depends on what you’re looking at, yes and no.

2024
56 Games played - .290 avg. 1480 AB, 315 Hits, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 299 RBI, 195 walks, 239 K, 84 HR

2025
64 Games played, - .302 avg. 1608 AB, 485 hits, 79 doubles, 19 triples, 344 RBI, 242 walks, 277 K, 73 HR

2025 was better statistically in all categories except strikeouts and home runs. Which 2024 had 38 less strikeouts and 11 more home runs despite 8 less games.

If you look at % and AB, the 2025 strikeout was only 1% higher.

 

[TJVol95]

Need a top notch hitting coach and recruit more hitters. We had the pitching and just needed 4 runs a game.

 

[EZE]

Need a top notch hitting coach and recruit more hitters. We had the pitching and just needed 4 runs a game.

Hitting has almost always been the weak link. But you can pretty much say the same thing for every team not named Oklahoma.

 

[savannahfan]

I would only disagree that our coach was "excused" from her job because of that one decision. There was a complete body of work and likely a sense that her ceiling had been reached, and that the ceiling needed to be raised to accommodate the importance the UTAD wished to place on women's basketball.

But otherwise, the game time decisions are comparable.

The basketball choices were between contesting the inbounds with a vanilla defense (zone or man-to-man), which would be the most susceptible to special plays designed to create an open, game winning shot opportunity for their best shooters...
or, freeing one defender to provide help against that play happening, by not guarding the one S.Carolina player on the court who was statistically and experientially least likely by far to beat you on that play.

Any good, humanity-affirming sport will reward individual performance over statistical probability. Everything about that decision makes logical, rational, statistical sense... except for the outcome. But we didn't fail--their player succeeded. And games that allow that are games worth playing and watching.

Your first paragraph stated my position nicely! I had stated sorta quietly for a good part of the last half of the season that Kellie was in trouble the way I say it. The gaf at the END wss just the straw that broke the camel's back. As for the current softball situation: Yes, we have good coaching, however not very aggressive as I see it. Our lead lady can coach, but just can't reach the top. This day and time it requires a little "in your face" to make it all the way. (reference our baseball program) Our lead lady just is not made that way. Her way results in a good well run program, but - - - -

 

[BruisedOrange]

That is extremely interesting! If my math is right, 42 championship teams with only five from east of the Mississippi river.

Why doesn't eastern half of USA excel in softball?

As I recall, under age 18 southern girls mostly played slow pitch softball until probably mid-90's?

Back in the late '70s IIRC, Chattanooga was intentionally becoming a hotbed of women's softball, building more fields, hosting big, invitational tournaments, etc.

Does anyone know if that's still the case? And if not, what happened?
-----
I've shared this story here before, but I love remembering how innocent* times once were, when mild innuendo was still clever and edgy.

A college friend who worked in a building downtown (Chattanooga) that was full of legal offices organized a women's softball team that was pretty good in their corporate/industrial league. They called their team "Legal Secs."


*Today, by contrast, in some US city there's probably a team called "League-Alize Sex" that's made up of professional sex workers.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Your first paragraph stated my position nicely! I had stated sorta quietly for a good part of the last half of the season that Kellie was in trouble the way I say it. The gaf at the END wss just the straw that broke the camel's back. As for the current softball situation: Yes, we have good coaching, however not very aggressive as I see it. Our lead lady can coach, but just can't reach the top. This day and time it requires a little "in your face" to make it all the way. (reference our baseball program) Our lead lady just is not made that way. Her way results in a good well run program, but - - - -

For sure we've learned that Danny White is willing to pull the trigger when he's confident he doesn't see a team/program improving. That All-Sports trophy seems to be a real goal for this administration.

I wonder if Danny would ever insert himself into staff decisions, and if Coach Karen would be amenable to it? Would they consider bringing in an up-and-coming young coaching talent to be mentored by Karen to eventually take over the program, but with the understanding that she's also there to bring a more aggressive voice to the staff?

That's an awfully delicate thing in reality, unless Coach Karen had plenty of voice in the choice.
It's probably only a scenario uninformed fans imagine.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Back in the late '70s IIRC, Chattanooga was intentionally becoming a hotbed of women's softball, building more fields, hosting big, invitational tournaments, etc.

Does anyone know if that's still the case? And if not, what happened?
-----
I've shared this story here before, but I love remembering how innocent* times once were, when mild innuendo was still clever and edgy.

A college friend who worked in a building downtown (Chattanooga) that was full of legal offices organized a women's softball team that was pretty good in their corporate/industrial league. They called their team "Legal Secs."


*Today, by contrast, in some US city there's probably a team called "League-Alize Sex" that's made up of professional sex workers.

I grew up in Chatt and played a lot of slow pitch SB at Monteque?? Park. Also helped a friend coach a 12 yr old girls fast pitch team in the summer leagues, which is AAU now. SB was big in Chatt at that time. Moved to FL after college and where I played all yr round, SB heaven, ha.

I don't see Danny touching Karen or Barnes. Their coaching resume has earned them the right to step down on their terms but bringing in a future HC is not a bad idea but not sure if Danny works like that.

 

[ZZ13]

I always am amazed at the recency bias of those that say a coach can never win the big games. Heck every single game in the regionals, super regionals and World Series is a big one. Each and every game. The Vols won a huge, huge game against UCLA to make it to the Final four (which for some reason is the holy grail of basketball but I guess irrelevant in softball). Yet the majority of message board hero's here aren't joyfully appreciating the win, rather they are focusing in on some stupid home plate technicality and some 50-50 coaching decision about sending a runner from 3rd. I guess those that are happy and content just don't bother with message boards.

 

[Rickster]

Did the new hitting coach improve our offense?

Yes but that was somewhat offset by the number of new offensive players and their experience. I saw improvement from Ella, Emma, the Leach's and more. I don't believe it's accurate to judge the hitting effectiveness on one years worth of stats especially in a conference like the SEC.

 

[volfan102455]

I grew up in Chatt and played a lot of slow pitch SB at Moneque?? Park. Also helped a friend coach a 12 yr old fast pitch team in the summer leagues, which is AAU now. SB was big in Chatt at that time. Moved to FL after college and where I played all yr round, SB heaven, ha.

I do wonder if it is the difference between slow pitch and fast pitch softball. When I was younger (and I leave near Chattanooga), slow pitch softball was everywhere for both men, women and coed teams. Industrial leagues, church leagues, at the schools - though it was more in the lower grades - point is everyone played slow pitch softball. But it is nowhere to be found and very limited fastpitch outside of the high schools.

Also to note, most girls play in the youth baseball leagues where I live.

 

[volfan102455]

No doubt. She consistently wins, she and her players represent the University well and she just made the Final Four. That is a very successful season.

I’d like to get over the hump and win it all, too, but a Natty cannot be the only standard.

Quoting this to just say I agree!

This was an extremely successful season - I really don't understand how anyone can have any complaints about this season!

 

[Jax_Vol]

I grew up in Chatt and played a lot of slow pitch SB at Moneque?? Park. Also helped a friend coach a 12 yr old fast pitch team in the summer leagues, which is AAU now. SB was big in Chatt at that time. Moved to FL after college and where I played all yr round, SB heaven, ha.

I don't see Danny touching Karen or Barnes. Their coaching resume has earned them the right to step down on their terms but bringing in a future HC is not a bad idea but not sure if Danny works like that.

Yes, that is/was softball heaven. In the 'World' Men's Slow Pitch softball, we hated playing Florida teams.

I'm kinda surprised that state hasn't won more NCAA championships over the last 42 years.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Yes, that is/was softball heaven. In the 'World' Men's Slow Pitch softball, we hated playing Florida teams.

I'm kinda surprised that state hasn't won more NCAA championships over the last 42 years.

Thats funny, we never saw it as an advantage but I see your point, it probably was. I played on a really good team, not necessarily me, and we went to several FL state tourney's. We didn't want to play the teams from Miami. They had a lot of Cuban players and were really good.

 

[Rickster]

Thats funny, we never saw it as an advantage but I see your point, it probably was. I played on a really good team, not necessarily me, and we went to several FL state tourney's. We didn't want to play the teams from Miami. They had a lot of Cuban players and were really good.

Having great softball weather almost year round helps.