Kellie Harper’s coaching career has been anything but predictable. But despite the unpredictable turns, her resume is hard to ignore. But her five-year stint as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols ended abruptly, leaving many wondering what went wrong.
To add on, Harper’s tenure in Knoxville wasn’t a failure. She had a 108-52 record, with four NCAA Tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 runs.
However, last season, Harper’s team had a 20-13 finish and a second-round exit at the hands of NC State. It looks like a Final Four team wasn’t enough to meet Tennessee’s expectations. And so, the administration pulled the plug.
However, Harper hasn’t stayed unemployed for long. She is back in the game, and this time, she is taking over Missouri’s team after Robin Pingeton’s resignation. But before the contract comes out, what did her previous one look like?
Kellie Harper’s Contract at Tennessee
Tennessee initially hired Harper in April 2019 with a five-year contract worth $750,000 annually. And hiring Harper saw some immediate results. She led the Lady Vols to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
This led to a two-year contract extension and a $50,000 salary hike. Additionally, this came with the perk of using a private aircraft three times a year.
After Harper led Tennessee to its first Sweet 16 since 2016, she had another extension. This time for a year and a $200,000 raise. This pushed her annual earnings to $1 million. Harper had officially become one of the highest-paid women’s basketball coaches in the SEC. And then came, yet another Sweet 16 run.
Again, this run again with an extension of Harper’s contract. This meant her contract was extended till April 2028 and another $100,000 in her account. By 2023-24, she was making $1.1 million a year, ranking as the SEC’s fourth-highest-paid coach.
What Was Kellie Harper’s Buyout?
Well, Tennessee structured Harper’s buyout based on when they chose to part ways. If they decided to fire her before March 31, 2024, she’d receive 100% of her remaining salary through 2027.
This means she would get $1.1 million per year for three years. After that deadline, she would still collect 50% of her remaining contract, equating to $550,000 per year until 2028.
So when Tennessee cut ties in March 2024, they essentially signed up to pay her full salary for the next three years. And it is quite questionable considering Harper’s coaching history at Tennessee.
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The 2021-22 season was Harper’s best season. She won 25 games and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years. The Lady Vols were ranked in the top five in national rankings and remained a contender throughout the season. But in the following years, injuries and inconsistency made it tough for Harper.
While it is true that Tennessee made it back to the Sweet 16 in 2022-23, they struggled. By 2023-24, it was hard to ignore the drop in standards. The Lady Vols slipped to a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their lowest under Harper. To make it worse, they did go past the second round.
The moment that Tennessee’s legacy was at stake, they decided it was time for a fresh start. Now, at Missouri, if she can turn things around for the Tigers, this might be the biggest chapter yet in her coaching lore.
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