Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell announced on social media that she is expecting a baby. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Caldwell wrote, “Faith in God includes faith in His timing. Baby Caldwell coming winter 2025.” The post featured a photo of a small high-top sneaker resting on a basketball.
This will be the first child for Caldwell and her husband, Justin, who celebrated their first wedding anniversary in May.
Kim Caldwell, 35, was appointed as the Lady Vols’ head coach in April, taking over from Kellie Harper. Caldwell previously coached at Marshall University and Division II Glenville State, where both she and Justin played and coached.
Caldwell follows a precedent of coaches at Tennessee balancing their professional and personal lives. Volleyball coach Eve Rackham Watt was pregnant during her debut season in 2018. Despite being restricted from travel in the final month of the season, Rackham Watt led her team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years. She gave birth to her son, Jude, in November 2018.
Tennessee has a history of supporting coaches who have children. Pat Summitt, a legendary figure in women’s basketball, had her son, Tyler, in 1990. More recently, women’s tennis coach Alison Ojeda guided the Lady Vols to the national semifinals while 36 weeks pregnant, giving birth to her son, Marcus, in July. Ojeda’s previous pregnancy with her daughter, Summitt, also received strong support from athletic director Danny White and the department.
Before joining Tennessee, Caldwell was the head coach at Marshall for one season and spent seven seasons at Glenville State.
The Lady Vols are set to play an exhibition game against Carson-Newman on October 31, followed by their season opener against Samford on November 5.
