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Kellie Harper contract, buyout clause: Here’s how much Tennessee owes coach if fired

Lady Vols basketball fell short of a third straight trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 with a loss in the second round to NC State, ending a disappointing fifth season at Tennessee for Kellie Harper.

Tennessee was on a positive trajectory in Harper’s third and fourth seasons, which saw the first back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 since 2015 and 2016. But that progress plateaued this year, as the Lady Vols barely reached 20 wins and finished a second straight season with only one ranked win.

Harper’s buyout is set to drop on April 1 as the Lady Vols head into a pivotal offseason. Here are the details of her contract after her third extension in 2023.

Tennessee initially hired Harper in April 2019 on a five-year, $750,000 contract. She went 38-18 in her first two seasons and led the Lady Vols to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, which earned her the first of three contract extensions. Harper’s contract was extended by two years and she received a $50,000 raise and the use of a private aircraft three times a year.