Rising Stars
Kellie Jolly Harper
Head Coaching Record:
Western Carolina head coach (2004-09): 97-65
NC State head coach (2009-13): 70-64
Missouri State head coach (2013-present): 118-78
Pros:
Kellie Harper (then Kellie Jolly) was a player under Pat Summitt at Tennessee and was the Lady Vols’ starting point guard when they won three-straight national titles from 1996-98. She started her coaching career as an assistant at Auburn, took a job at Chattanooga under Wes Moore, then was named the head coach at Western Carolina. She had a great deal of success there and was tabbed to be NC State’s head coach. She was fired from that position after four years on the job, but she’s struck gold this season at Missouri State. Harper took the Lady Bears to the NCAA Tournament in 2016, and she got them there again this year and has made some noise, getting them to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2001.
Cons:
While Harper has clearly had success at Missouri State and did as well with Western Carolina, her four years at NC State are concerning. She made it to the NCAA Tournament her first year there then had a losing season her second year at the helm. She never finished above .500 in conference play at NC State, either. She’s gotten hot at the right time in terms of her name being on the table for the Lady Vols’ job, but her playing days with the Lady Vols may cloud some’s judgement of her.
2 Responses
She is a good coach. She did not have a good many players who could make enough shots against good teams. Possibly rebounding could have been stronger. Making the shots was the deal. Coach couldn’t shoot em in herself. Of course there is defense and I didn’t see them play enough to comment.
UConn and Tennesee will revive their competition in the near future which will be a good thing raising rafters like the old days!
I think the next Tennessee Vol Coach should be Kara Lawson or Candace Parker. GREAT ATHELETES!