Kim Caldwell on what makes Tennessee Lady Vols basketball recruiting different

Kim Caldwell won her introductory press conference when she was introduced as the new Lady Vols basketball coach on Tuesday.

She wore a Summitt Blue blazer and paid homage to the legendary coach Pat Summitt and her legacy. Caldwell cracked a few jokes, too, including about her new recruiting power at Tennessee.

She's fresh off her first season coaching Division I at Marshall, and it's a new world recruiting for the Lady Vols. Caldwell was hired Sunday, six days after Tennessee fired Kellie Harper.

"I mean, everyone I've texted has responded to me, so that's the difference," Caldwell joked. "It's really nice. But same thing, right? Players are players. People that are transferring and high school players, they're all looking for the same thing. Just different levels, just happen to be taller in the SEC."

Caldwell began her head coaching career at Division II Glenville State, where she played. She graduated in 2011.

While Caldwell went to two Final Fours and won a Division II national championship at Glenville State as a coach, she didn't reach those heights as a player.

"When I say I am honored and humbled to be here – there is not a single person who has gone through this program that I could even come close to beating one-on-one. It is a remarkable program," Caldwell said. "Pat Summitt changed the game of basketball, and wouldn't she love to see where the game is now."

Caldwell was awarded the Pat Summitt Trophy, named after the legendary Lady Vols coach, as the 2022 WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. Caldwell is 217-31 in her career and has never missed an NCAA Tournament.

She was named the 2024 WBCA Rookie of the Year after leading Marshall to a 26-7 record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.