Lady Vols head coach Holly Warlick receives a contract extension through the year 2022. The decision for the extension was a total Phillip Fulmer move.
In the few short months Phillip Fulmer has been the Athletic Director for the University of Tennessee he has had to make some tough decisions. Of course, we know about the hire of Jeremy Pruitt for the Tennessee football program.
Now, Lady Vols Basketball head coach, Holly Warlick receives a four-year contract extension. Of course, right? It is the most Phillip Fulmer decision ever.
Fulmer is all about dedication and love. He coached at the University of Tennessee from 1992-2008, and it could have been longer, but he was basically fired by the incompetent Mike Hamilton.
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Before coaching, Fulmer played on the offensive line for Tennessee. And, now he is serving as Athletic Director. The man can’t stay away. He is a Vol through and through and always will be. Most fans won’t admit it, but the same could be said for Holly Warlick.
Warlick played at the University of Tennessee from 1976-1980. After coaching as an assistant at Virginia Tech and Nebraska, she came back to Knoxville in 1985 to coach under Pat Summitt. And, has been coaching for the Lady Vols in some capacity ever since.
So, of course, Fulmer appreciates Warlick’s level of dedication to the University. But, is dedication enough to sway a decision on a contract extension?
There are some fans around town that think it is time for Warlick to move on. That comes after back-to-back seasons with early round exits in the NCAA Tournament. And, as we know our society is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ society.
No one thinks about how Warlick led her Lady Vols to three Elite Eight appearances in six seasons. And, one of those seasons was a 30 win season with a 15-1 record in the SEC Conference.
Tennessee fans were spoiled with the greatest coach of all time for 38 years in Pat Summitt. Summitt had an overall head coaching record of 1,098-208 (.841). Trying following that. It is almost impossible.
Another thing people fail to mention is there is a lot more parody in the game now then there was in Pat was coaching. So, for Warlick to have an overall record of 153-54 isn’t bad all things considered. I’m not suggesting it couldn’t get better, because it can. But, Warlick’s extension makes sense, for now.
To hold her to the standards of Pat Summitt is unfair and somewhat dumb. That is like holding the next coach for Alabama football to the standards that Saban has set. It won’t work, and they will fail. Summitt was one of a kind, a diamond in the rough, and there will never be another person like her.
The standards for Lady Vols basketball shouldn’t be a National Championship or bust. However, if early exits from the NCAA Tournament continue, that could be a cause for concern. Now all is alright, and you never know, maybe Holly can win her a natty in the next four years.