Kim Caldwell, the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball team, has been honored with the 2024 Spalding® Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award. This prestigious accolade, presented by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), recognizes a first-year NCAA Division I head coach who has led their team to a successful season. The award is named in memory of Maggie Dixon, who, in her inaugural season as head coach at Army, guided the Black Knights to their first NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship appearance in 2006.
Caldwell’s journey to this recognition began with her tenure at Marshall University during the 2023-24 season. In her sole season with the Thundering Herd, she led the team to a 26-7 overall record and a 17-1 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Under her leadership, Marshall secured both the regular season and tournament titles, earning the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament berth and first since 1997. Her remarkable achievements earned her the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honor.
Following her success at Marshall, Caldwell was appointed as the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on April 7, 2024, becoming the fourth leader of the program during the NCAA era. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes a fast-paced, high-octane offense coupled with pressure defense, a strategy that has consistently yielded impressive results throughout her career.
Before her time at Marshall, Caldwell served as the head coach at Glenville State University, her alma mater. During her seven-year tenure from 2016 to 2023, she amassed a 191-24 record, including a 132-12 slate in the Mountain East Conference. Notably, she led Glenville State to the 2021-22 NCAA Division II National Championship and was honored with the Pat Summitt Trophy, awarded to the WBCA’s NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.
Caldwell’s coaching career is marked by her ability to transform programs and lead teams to success. Her recognition as the Spalding® Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year underscores her exceptional leadership and the positive impact she has had on her players and the broader basketball community.
As she continues her tenure with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, fans and players alike are optimistic about the future of the program under her guidance. Caldwell’s proven track record of success and her commitment to excellence position her well to lead the Lady Vols back to national prominence.
