Fri Jan 24 06:30:00 IST 2025: **Lady Vols Coach Kim Caldwell Welcomes Baby Boy, Assistant to Coach Thursday’s Game**
AUSTIN, TX – University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell has given birth to her first child, a baby boy named Conor Scott Caldwell. The announcement was made Thursday via the Tennessee athletics social media accounts, which also stated that mother, father, and baby are all doing well.
Caldwell, who is in her first season coaching the Lady Vols, announced her pregnancy in September. Remarkably, she coached the team through the birth, leading them in a game against Vanderbilt just Sunday. However, Assistant Coach Jenna Burdette is filling in for Caldwell for Thursday night’s highly anticipated game against No. 7 Texas at the Moody Center.
Caldwell’s husband, Justin Caldwell – the player development coordinator for Tennessee men’s basketball – and she were both college athletes at Glenville State, where they met and later both served as coaches. Caldwell’s mother will be in Knoxville to assist with childcare through the end of the basketball season.
This is not the first instance of a Tennessee coach giving birth during their first season in Knoxville. Volleyball coach Eve Rackham Watt and women’s tennis coach Alison Ojeda both experienced similar situations in previous years. The university has a history of supporting coaches with children, dating back to legendary coach Pat Summitt.
The Lady Vols, currently 15-3, have shown strong support for Coach Caldwell throughout her pregnancy, even throwing her a baby shower during the pre-season. The team’s impressive 13-0 start to the season, their best since 2017-18, is a testament to Caldwell’s coaching abilities. The game against Texas tips off at 9 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
First Piper 