AUSTIN, Texas — This week, Tennessee’s head coach, Kim Caldwell, welcomed her first child, a son named Conor Scott Caldwell. A spokesperson for the athletic department reported that both mother and baby are in good health.
Caldwell’s maternity leave raises questions about her timeline for returning to the 17th-ranked Lady Vols, who recently experienced a narrow defeat, losing 80-76 to No. 7 Texas on Thursday night. In her absence, assistant coach Jenna Burdette has stepped into the role of acting head coach.
As a first-year coach at a prestigious program, Caldwell has expressed her desire to support other working mothers, emphasizing that she aims to mitigate stress for those facing similar challenges. “I have an opportunity here to help the next person that is going to get pregnant during basketball season or anyone that’s going to get pregnant during a time of their life that’s stressful,” Caldwell stated, highlighting the universal nature of stress for many women.
At 36 years old, Caldwell joined the Tennessee program following a successful stint at Marshall, where she led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997 during her one-year tenure. Arriving at Tennessee with an impressive coaching record of 217-31, Caldwell had previously claimed the 2022 NCAA Division II title with Glenville State.
The Lady Vols are known for their exceptional performance, currently leading the nation in scoring with an average of 94.3 points per game. They also hold the distinction of attempting and making more three-point shots than any other team in college basketball. However, the recent defeat against Texas brought the Lady Vols’ record to 15-4, with all four losses occurring by a mere eight points, three of which were against ranked opponents.
