Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced that Tennessee Athletics and head women’s basketball coach Kim Caldwell have agreed to a one-year contract extension. The extension keeps Caldwell under contract through March 31, 2030.
“From our first meeting with Kim, it was clear that she is a groundbreaking innovator destined to lead the future of women’s basketball,” said White. “In just one season, we experienced firsthand how her winning formula can revolutionize the game with her dynamic, high-octane offense and relentless defense. The promising future of Lady Vols basketball is in great hands under Kim’s leadership, setting the stage for a remarkable journey ahead!”
Caldwell guided the Lady Vols to 24 wins and an appearance in the Sweet 16 in her first season at the helm on Rocky Top. The 24 wins ranked second among first-year Lady Vol head coaches behind only Holly Warlick (27 in 2012-13).
“I am grateful for Danny’s continued trust and belief in me after a foundational first season here at Tennessee,” Caldwell said. “I am very proud of our players and staff for the effort they put in and for what we accomplished together. I look forward to getting back to work, finding ways we can improve our program and continuing to take the steps necessary to compete for championships.”
In her first season at Tennessee and at the Power 4 level, Caldwell guided the Lady Vols to as high as No. 11 in the national rankings en route to a 24-10 record, and she extended the program’s record-setting run to 43-straight NCAA Tournaments. UT, a No. 5 seed in the tourney, advanced to its 37th all-time NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to No. 1 seed and fifth-ranked Texas.
Her squad earned four victories over ranked opponents in 2024-25, including a home triumph over No. 5 UConn that was witnessed by a crowd of 16,215 that ranked as the best for a women’s game at Food City Center since the 2011-12 campaign. That total helped the Lady Vols average 10,647 in attendance per game, ranking No. 5 nationally and standing as the best season mark since leading the nation at 11,038 in 2013-14.
Caldwell’s first squad on Rocky Top showcased the up-tempo, high-intensity system that has enabled her to compile a 241-41 (.855) record in nine seasons as a head coach. The Lady Vols finished second nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.1) and were third in scoring offense (86.6) and offensive rebounds per game (16.9). They also finished fifth in bench points per game (29.8) and ninth in turnovers forced per contest (22.18).
Tennessee set SEC and school records for three-pointers made (343) and attempted (1,054) in a season. It also set NCAA, SEC and UT records for threes made in a game, hitting 30 vs. North Carolina Central on Dec. 14, and the Big Orange set SEC and program bests for treys attempted in that contest with 63. Additionally, the Lady Vols scored 139 points vs. N.C. Central, notching a program best with that total and tying for the fifth-most in NCAA Division I history.
With a new coaching staff in place for only six months, Tennessee pulled in a five-player signing class that is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 by most recruiting services. Caldwell and her staff landed a group that is rated No. 1 by 247Sports and No. 2 by ESPN as well as several other organizations.
It marks the first time the Lady Vols have been ranked in the top 10 by any organization since 2019 (No. 9/ ESPN), in the top five since 2018 (No. 4/ESPN) and in the top two since 2017 (No. 1/ESPN). Additionally, this marks UT’s first group with four ESPN top-50 rated signees since landing four in 2018 and its first class with five high school players inking paperwork since the program reeled in six scholarship players (all in the top 35) back in 2008.
