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Rumors of Holly Warlick’s dismissal deemed false by Tennessee

By Blake DuDonis

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 10: Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick looks on during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats on January 10, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 10: Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick looks on during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats on January 10, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The rumors that longtime Pat Summitt assistant has been let go before the conclusion of her 7th season have been denied by Tennessee.

A tweet from a Knoxville based radio host sent the Tennessee fanbase into a frenzy after claiming he heard rumblings that Holly Warlick would be removed from her position prior to the end of the season. Tennessee denied the rumor to High Post Hoops.

Asked directly, a spokesperson for Tennessee responded to the rumors via email Sunday: “The rumor is false.”

The calling for Warlick’s job has increased on the heels of the Lady Vols dropping their fourth straight contest, the longest such streak since 1970, four years before the legendary Pat Summitt took over the reins of the program.

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In a job that was always going to be a difficult one, Warlick took over the Lady Vols program after serving as Summitt’s assistant for 27 seasons. Initially, the team continued to find great success as Warlick led Tennessee to three Elite Eights and one Sweet Sixteen in her first four seasons in charge.

The previous two seasons, and the current one, have been a different story. After failing to get out of the first weekend for two consecutive seasons, calls for Warlick’s jobs grew louder. Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer went the other way, however, giving her an extension that took her contract through the 2021-22 season.

After a 12-1 start to the season, Tennessee dropped home games to Missouri and Kentucky, two teams who have been in and out of the Top 25. A road loss to Georgia followed, but another road loss to Alabama, the fifth straight loss to the Tide, sparked true dismay in Rocky Top. Alabama is now the only team in SEC history to defeat Tennessee five straight times.

Tennessee will look to end their losing streak on January 21 when they host 13-5 Arkansas on, ironically enough, “We Back Pat” night, a night intended to raise support for the Pat Summitt Foundation. 

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