Under-the-radar option to replace Kellie Harper as the head coach of the Lady Vols

The Tennessee Vols are in the market for a new women's basketball coach after parting ways with Kellie Harper on Monday.  Vols athletic director Danny White will lead the search for a new head coach. According to ESPN's Chris Low, White is expected to "swing big".  Earlier on Tuesday, we put out a Lady Vols […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee Vols news
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

The Tennessee Vols are in the market for a new women's basketball coach after parting ways with Kellie Harper on Monday. 

Vols athletic director Danny White will lead the search for a new head coach. According to ESPN's Chris Low, White is expected to "swing big". 

Earlier on Tuesday, we put out a Lady Vols head coach hot board with a couple of big names

While White is expected to "swing big", there's no guarantee that he'll land a big name. 

One potential under-the-radar option that could be in play for the Vols is Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko. 

Smesko, a former walk-on at Kent State, has been the head coach at Florida Gulf Coast since 2002, the first year of the women's basketball program's existence. He's gone 611-110 during his time at Florida Gulf Coast and he's reached the NCAA Tournament in seven straight seasons. Smesko also hasn't lost more than five games in a season since 2016-17. 

Hiring Smesko would be a bit of gamble since he doesn't have experience in a major conference, but he's known as a innovative coach who is always looking for fresh ideas to implement. That trait alone makes him seem like an option that could at least intrigue White.