Tennessee’s contract with Kellie Harper includes details on the buyout provision, which specifies the amount owed to the coach in the event of termination.
The Lady Vols basketball team was eliminated in the second round by NC State, preventing them from making their third consecutive participation in the NCAA Sweet 16.
This loss marked the conclusion of a disastrous sixth season in Tennessee. Tennessee made good progress in Harper’s third and fourth seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 and 2016. However, the team’s progress stalled this year, with the Lady Vols just reaching 20 wins and finishing the season with only one victory over a ranked opponent for the second straight year.
As the Lady Vols enter a crucial offseason, Harper’s buyout is set to decrease on April 1. Below are the specifics of her contract following her third extension in 2023.
Kellie Harper Tennessee, contract details
- Current contract length: Five years
- Contract value: $5.5 million
Tennessee initially brought Harper on board in April 2019 under a five-year contract worth $750,000. During her first two seasons, she amassed a record of 38-18 and guided the Lady Vols to the NCAA Tournament’s second round, prompting the first of three contract extensions. In this extension, Harper’s contract was prolonged by two years, accompanied by a $50,000 salary increase and the privilege of using a private aircraft three times annually.
The second extension materialized after Harper led Tennessee to its inaugural NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 2016. She inked a one-year extension and received a $200,000 salary boost, elevating her yearly earnings to $1 million, placing her among the highest-paid women’s basketball coaches in the SEC. This extension also revised her buyout terms to those currently in effect.
Harper secured her third contract extension following the Lady Vols’ consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. Her contract was elongated until April 14, 2028, accompanied by a $100,000 salary hike, raising her annual compensation to $1.1 million. In the 2023-24 season, she ranked as the fourth-highest-paid women’s basketball coach in the SEC.
What is Kellie Harper’s buyout if fired?
Here’s a breakdown of Kellie Harper’s termination buyout arrangement in her contract with Tennessee. Rather than specifying an exact dollar amount per year, the buyout stipulates the portion of her salary that Tennessee owes her based on the timing of her termination:
– If termination occurs on or before March 31, 2024: Harper is entitled to receive 100% of the annual compensation she would have earned from the termination date until April 14, 2027.
– If termination occurs between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2028: Harper is entitled to receive 50% of the annual compensation she would have earned from the termination date until the conclusion of her contract.
In essence, if Harper is terminated before March 31, Tennessee will be obligated to pay her $1.1 million annually until 2027. If termination happens after that date but before the contract’s end, Tennessee will pay her $550,000 per year until 2028.
Kellie Harper year-by-year record
Below is Kellie Harper’s year-by-year record with the Lady Vols.
- 2019-20: 21-10 (NCAA Tournament canceled)
- 2020-21: 17-8 (NCAA second round)
- 2021-22: 25-9 (NCAA Sweet 16)
- 2022-23: 25-12 (NCAA Sweet 16)
- 2023-24: 20-13 (NCAA second round)
- Overall: 108-52
What Kellie Harper has done at Tennessee
Harper’s most successful season occurred in 2021-22, marking her first 25-win season at Tennessee and culminating in the team’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016. The Lady Vols achieved a top 5 ranking in the national polls in January, maintaining it for three weeks before encountering their initial SEC loss.
By the end of the season, they were ranked No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 18 in the AP Top 25. However, despite their consistent ranking throughout the 2021-22 season, Tennessee has only managed a combined 14 weeks in the AP Top 25 and 11 weeks in the coaches’ poll over the past two seasons.
In the 2022-23 season, despite possessing a team with the potential to reach the Final Four and abundant talent, the Lady Vols were eliminated in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. Although there was optimism for a third Sweet 16 run this season, following a close match against No. 1 South Carolina, Tennessee fell short in the second round as a No. 6 seed. Notably, this was the first time during Harper’s tenure that the Lady Vols were not seeded at least fourth with hosting privileges. In conference play this season, Tennessee finished tied for fourth in the SEC with a 10-6 record, marking the first time under Harper that they did not finish third or tied for third.
The team has encountered significant challenges over the past three seasons due to key player injuries, including Jordan Horston, Tamari Key, Rickea Jackson, and Destinee Wells. Consequently, Tennessee has struggled against ranked opponents since securing five ranked wins in the 2021-22 season. With only two ranked wins in the last two seasons, Harper’s record against ranked opponents at UT now stands at 12-37.
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