Tennessee AD Danny White Backs Lady Vols Coach Kim Caldwell

White says Caldwell is 'doing a great job' despite late-season struggles for Tennessee women's basketball team.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Tennessee athletics director Danny White voiced his strong support for Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell, saying he is 'as confident in her as I was the day I hired her' despite the team's late-season slump. White acknowledged the program is 'not an easy proposition' to rebuild, but expressed optimism in Caldwell's leadership and the team's future.

Why it matters

The Lady Vols have struggled mightily in the second half of the season, including some historic losses, leading to criticism from fans and former players. White's public backing of Caldwell is an important show of support for the coach as she works to turn the program around in her second year.

The details

The Lady Vols have lost six straight games and nine of their past 11, including a 30-point loss to UConn and a 43-point loss to South Carolina, the largest defeat in program history. Senior Kaiya Wynn also announced she is leaving the team ahead of the postseason. Despite the struggles, White said he expected Year 2 to be tough and that he believes Caldwell is 'doing a great job' as the team's head coach.

  • The Lady Vols (16-12) are heading into the SEC Tournament as the No. 6 seed.
  • Caldwell was hired as Tennessee's head coach in April 2024 after the school let go of former coach Kellie Harper.

The players

Danny White

The athletics director at the University of Tennessee who hired Kim Caldwell as the Lady Vols' head coach in 2024.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols women's basketball team, now in her second season after previously coaching at Marshall and Glenville State.

Kaiya Wynn

A senior on the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team who announced she is leaving the team ahead of the postseason.

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What they’re saying

“I think she is doing a great job. I'm as confident in her as I was the day I hired here, more confident just getting a chance to work more closely with her and see how talented she is as a basketball mind and as a leader.”

— Danny White, Tennessee Athletics Director (WNML)

“This season has not met anyone's expectations, most of all hers. She is incredibly competitive. I'm not surprised to see the narrative around it both positive and negative. We have I think the most passionate fanbase in the country and a storied women's basketball program that we are working really hard to get back. That is not an easy proposition. We didn't expect it to be.”

— Danny White, Tennessee Athletics Director (WNML)

What’s next

The Lady Vols open SEC Tournament play on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network) as the No. 6 seed against the winner of No. 11 Alabama and No. 14 Missouri.

The takeaway

Despite the Lady Vols' struggles this season, Tennessee's athletics director has expressed unwavering support for head coach Kim Caldwell, recognizing the long-term rebuilding process required to return the storied women's basketball program to prominence.