Kellie HarperKNOXVILLE - Tennessee made the hiring of new women's basketball coach Kellie Harper official Tuesday.
The former Kellie Jolly rejoins the Lady Volunteers program after spending the past six seasons at Missouri State. She compiled a 118-79 record during her time there, which included two NCAA tournament appearances. Her Bears this past season went 25-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16, finishing 24th in the final NCAA rankings.
She receives a compensation package of $750,000 annually for five seasons.
"I'm excited to have Kellie as our new women's basketball coach," Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer said in a news release. "She is a Lady Vol through and through. Her love of the game, her care and love for her players and her loyalty to UT all came through during the interview process.
"Kellie has proven to be a winner at every stop in her career, taking three programs to the NCAA tournament. She certainly knows the expectations that come with this job, as she has lived it herself."
Harper helped win three consecutive national championships as a player at Tennessee from 1995 to '99, starting 132 games. After working as an assistant at UT-Chattanooga, she started her head coaching career at Western Carolina, making the NCAA tournament twice in five seasons and being named the 2007 Southern Conference coach of the year. She then moved on to North Carolina State, where her Wolfpack qualified for the tournament in her first season and had two Women's National Invitation Tournament appearances.
In addition to her most recent run in the NCAA tournament, Harper also guided Missouri State there in 2016.
In total, Harper has a record of 285-209 as a head coach, with five NCAA tournament and seven WNIT appearances to her credit.
There will be a news conference on Wednesday to introduce her.
"I am incredibly humbled and honored to be named the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols," Harper said in Tuesday's release. "Tennessee holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to embrace the legacy of this proud program. I can't wait to help each player and this team be champions, on the court and off."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.