The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball program has seen a fresh wave of energy and determination under head coach Kim Caldwell. Her impact has not gone unnoticed.
While Caldwell has been fully focused on leading her team to success, she has also gained admiration from one of Tennessee’s longest-tenured coaches, especially Karen Weekly.
Kim Caldwell Earns High Praise From Karen Weekly for Leadership of Lady Vols
Weekly has overseen the Lady Vols softball program for more than two decades. She has been following Caldwell’s journey and has nothing but respect, especially for the way she has handled the challenge of leading one of the most historic programs in women’s basketball.
Weekly and Caldwell have not had many opportunities to interact deeply, given their packed schedules leading two of Tennessee’s most competitive athletic programs. However, Weekly has paid close attention to Caldwell’s approach from a distance and has been impressed by the coach’s leadership in her first year with the Lady Vols.
“I think she’s amazing,” Weekly told Knox News. “I love her confidence. I love her brevity. I love that she just says what she thinks, and what I really love is she challenges her players, but she’s never going to call them out publicly. And I just think she handles everything with such class.”
Under Caldwell’s guidance, the Lady Vols have enjoyed their strongest start to a season since 2017-18, and her debut campaign saw Tennessee takedown storied rival UConn in an impressive victory.
Caldwell has expressed gratitude for Weekly’s support, acknowledging the camaraderie that exists among Tennessee’s coaching staff. The mutual respect among coaches across different sports has been a hallmark of Tennessee athletics, and Caldwell appreciates the encouragement she has received from her peers.
“She’s been great. She always reaches out and checks on me,” Caldwell said of Weekly. “The coaches here are phenomenal. The support that they give—they’re great people. They will check in on you. We support each other, and that’s something that you don’t see very many places.”
Honoring the Lady Vols Legacy
Weekly has been deeply ingrained in Tennessee’s sports culture since she arrived in Knoxville in 2002. Alongside her husband, Ralph Weekly 00 who retired in 2021 — she helped build the Lady Vols softball program into a national powerhouse.
Through the years, she developed a strong bond with legendary Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt.
“The little touches to it, like the Summitt legacy patch on it, because Pat Summitt is a big part of our program, a big part of me and Ralph,” Weekly said. “We wouldn’t be here, we wouldn’t have the success we’ve had here if it wasn’t for Pat Summitt.”
While Weekly has always admired Summitt’s legendary leadership, her respect for Caldwell has grown even stronger after witnessing her perseverance this season. Caldwell faced a unique challenge in her first year as head coach — balancing the demands of leading the Lady Vols while also preparing for the birth of her first child.
In January, Caldwell gave birth to her son, Conor Scott Caldwell, and stunned many by missing just one game before returning to the sidelines. Within four days of giving birth, she was back at practice, and just a week later, she was coaching her team again. Weekly was in awe of her dedication and resilience.
“I can’t even imagine what it’s been like to be your first year coaching the Tennessee Lady Vols, the storied program it is, oh, and you’re pregnant,” Weekly said.
“It was funny because she never looked uncomfortable, which was pretty darn remarkable. I wasn’t surprised at all that she came back as quick as she did. Not at all. Just getting to watch her, getting to know her, seeing the toughness, the commitment to her players and to being the best. She’s very impressive, and I’m learning a lot from her, even though she’s about half my age.”
KEEP READING: Tennessee Lady Vols Reach Pivotal Mark in Kim Caldwell Era
With Caldwell at the helm, the Lady Vols are embracing a new era while staying true to their rich history.
As she continues to build her legacy, she has already earned the respect of some of Tennessee’s most esteemed coaches, proving that she is more than capable of leading the program into the future.
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