Todd Kelly Jr.

Kelly reflected on how quickly his time has gone by here and how he feels about heading into his final season on Rocky Top.
“It’s wild how time flies. The veterans told me when I was freshman that when you blink your eye and you snap your finger, you’ll be a senior and it’ll be your last time running through the T. Now I’m looking and realizing how much that meant to them and how much it means to me now.”

For the first time in nine years, Tennessee has posted back-to-back nine-win seasons. The Vols are one of just three SEC schools to win nine or more games in each of the past two seasons. Kelly talked about the sense of pride that gives him, especially being a Knoxville native.
“When you’re a Volunteer, considering the situation that you’re in representing your state, playing in Knoxville, it’s a pleasure and I take the opportunity and I run with it. With that being said, having the opportunity to win some ballgames here and seeing this program progress, it speaks volumes to this program and what we’re trying to do which is win ballgames.”

Kelly was just recently named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” He talked about the joy he takes in helping out his community.
“It is [rewarding]. Most of the guys that I’ve seen on that list, we do it not to be on that list but just to do it for the cause and give back to the community because I know how many kids want to be on this platform. I was a kid and was enabled to make it this far, and I just want to give back to my community, especially being from here. Whether it is an elementary school or tutoring middle schoolers, whatever it may be. Just whatever I can do to help that’s what I’m going to do.”

Safety is shaping up to be one of Tennessee’s deepest positions this season. Kelly talked about the depth and completion at the position how he thinks things will play out during training camp.
“We have a lot of safeties that can play in the ballgame and be in there when their name is called. That takes pressure off of us and also makes us compete. This training camp is going to be all about competing to get one another better, and at the end of the day, whoever is on the field we are going to support each other.”

Ethan Wolf

Depth at tight end should be a strength for the offense this season, especially considering position coach Larry Scott will also be serving as offensive coordinator. Wolf believes the depth at the position will give the Vols chances to create mismatches on offense.
“We’re pretty deep right now. Last year we had a bit of injury throughout the position, but now we have two new guys in that are doing very well. They haven’t had much time to learn the offense, and we’ve put in a lot of time with them making sure that when they go out on the field, they’re at least going to know what they’re doing. Eli (Wolf), Jakob (Johnson), and Austin (Pope), all those guys are working their butts off every day. And to be able to put another guy on the field, it creates mismatches, it allows us to be able to go from a run set to a pass set, and that’s what everybody looks for in a 12-personnel set and what everybody wants to do, you just have to have the guys to do it and I think we do.”

The offensive line returns players that accounted for 55 starts a season ago and Wolf believes the o-line will be a major strength for the team this year.
“I think we’re going in the right direction. We’ve got some new guys that are coming in and creating competition, and there’s competition every day. You’re always trying to out-do somebody, whether it’s friendly competition or not, which 99 percent of it is. We’re taking steps forward in the weight room and in the meeting rooms, and now we’re going to start on the field and I think that we’re going to have depth and we’re going to be a strong offensive line this year.”

Chemistry and leadership is vital for any offense to succeed. Wolf believes that this summer’s 7-on-7 practices have helped the team is both of those areas.
“Timing is the biggest thing. The coaches aren’t allowed to be out there, so it’s put on us, we have to go out there and develop a 7-on-7 and all that stuff just to get the timing down. And another thing it builds is leadership. You can’t do it without leaders because everything would go in all different directions, you have to have everyone on the same page, everybody running the same plays. We’re not going out there to just throw the ball. We obviously want to go out there and succeed and improve our timing and I think it’s going to pay off.”

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Bridgette Gordon, who helped Tennessee capture two of its eight NCAA titles in the sport as a student-athlete, has returned to her alma mater as an assistant, UT Head Coach Holly Warlick announced on Thursday.

Gordon, a 1988 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, comes to Rocky Top from Wichita State, where she spent seven seasons, including the last three as the recruiting coordinator. Gordon, who served as associate head coach a year ago, helped WSU land the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history when Blue Star Basketball rated the 2012-13 signing group at No. 47 in the nation.

In addition to her work as a gifted recruiter, Gordon helped the Shockers make their first three appearances ever in the NCAA Tournament while capturing the program’s first three regular- and post-season conference championships. The Shockers advanced to postseason play five times during her stint in Wichita.

“Though there was urgency to fill this position, I took my time and turned over every stone to find the best fit for this program,” Warlick said. “Bridgette checks all the boxes in terms of who I wanted. I am so excited to welcome her back to Tennessee as a member of our staff.”

“Everyone we visited with about Bridgette spoke highly of her reputation as a coach and person. She has great relationships with her players, college administrators, AAU and high school coaches, university donors and the community. One veteran college athletics administrator told us ‘the game needs Bridgette Gordon in it.'”

“Bridgette is not only a fantastic recruiter, but she also is an experienced floor coach who holds players accountable. She has a great love for Tennessee, coaches with passion, cares about people, embodies loyalty and is invested in the history and future of this program. I can’t wait to hit the ground running with Bridgette on our staff.”

Gordon, who has 14 years of experience in the coaching ranks and another as a WNBA scout, expressed her joy in returning to campus as a member of the Warlick’s staff.

“First, I would like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity,” Gordon said. “I am grateful to Holly and the UT Athletics administration for the opportunity and for having faith in me to continue building the rich tradition of the Lady Vol program.

“This opportunity is reminiscent of a call I received over 30 years ago, of being offered a scholarship. I had always dreamed of being a Lady Vol. After playing and being part of this rich tradition, I have continued to dream about coming back as a coach and helping Holly continue to add to the Lady Vol legacy.  Another dream has come true!

“I’m overwhelmed and grateful, because Knoxville is a special place. I spent the best four years of my life here. The fans have always been so faithful and supportive.  There is no place like home, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s heartfelt, because it has only been a year since we lost Pat, and I know she would be proud of me.
“I look forward to assisting Holly, Dean and Sharrona as we continue to shape this wonderful program, but most importantly I am ecstatic about meeting and working with this awesome group of Lady Vols.”

Gordon’s influence helped establish several Wichita State student-athletes as dominant forces in the Missouri Valley Conference. She helped guide Jessica Diamond to a pair of first-team all-conference selections, Haleigh Lankster to 2011-12 MVC Defensive Player of the Year accolades, and Alex Harden to 2013, 2014 and 2015 MVC Tournament MVP honors as well as back-to-back MVC Defensive Player of the Year and 2015 MVC Player of the Year distinction. Harden developed into a 2015 WNBA Draft pick.

Prior to her tenure at WSU, Gordon spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Along with being an assistant coach, she was GSU’s recruiting coordinator her final two seasons with the Panthers, where she helped land the No. 52 ranked class in the nation. Georgia State improved its win total in each season Gordon spent on the bench.

Before her stint in Atlanta, Gordon served one year as a regional scout for the WNBA in 2006-07. She traveled the country rating the top 50 seniors in the nation and evaluated underclassmen for future WNBA consideration.

From 2001-06, Gordon was an assistant coach in her hometown of DeLand, Fla., at Stetson University, and spent her last two seasons with the Hatters as the recruiting coordinator. In 2005, she helped lead the squad to its first conference tournament championship and the initial NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.

Gordon enjoyed a stellar collegiate playing career at Tennessee from 1985-89, helping lead Tennessee to its first two NCAA National Championships as a sophomore (1987) and as a senior (1989) along with two other Final Four appearances. That accomplishment made UT the first school in women’s basketball to advance to four consecutive NCAA Final Fours.

With Warlick serving as an assistant to Pat Summitt on those Tennessee teams, Gordon was a four-time All-SEC First Team performer and two-time Kodak All-American.  Her number 30 is hanging from the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena, and she is a member of the Women’s Basketball (2007), Tennessee Sports (2012), University of Tennessee Athletics (2001) and DeLand (Fla.) High School Halls of Fame.

Gordon was named NCAA Final Four MVP, SEC Female Athlete of the Year and SEC Player of the Year in 1989 and was the SEC Tournament MVP in 1988 and 1989. She collected SEC Freshman of the Year accolades in 1986 and later was named to the NCAA 25th Anniversary Team and the Team of the Decade (1980s).

Finishing her college career as UT’s all-time leader in points (2,462) and steals (336), Gordon remains second in both categories through the 2016-17 season. The 1989 UT graduate possesses a B.S. in political science.

On the international stage, Gordon earned her Olympic gold medal in 1988, prior to her senior year of college. She traveled to Seoul, South Korea, and helped the USA take the top spot on the podium. She was the fourth-leading scorer and one of two collegiate members of Team USA who brought home gold medals. Gordon’s .571 field goal percentage was second on the squad that went 5-0 to achieve its “Sole Goal” of “Seoul Gold”.

Following her collegiate career, Gordon played professionally in Italy, where she was a perennial all-star and won seven Italian Championships and two European Cups (1994 & 1996), and Turkey, before a two-year stint with the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs.

GORDON’S COACHING CAREER

Tennessee

• Assistant Coach (2017-Present)

Wichita State

• Associate Head Coach (2016-17)
• Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (2012-16)
• Assistant Coach (2010-12)

Georgia State

• Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (2008-10)

WNBA

• Regional Scout (2006-07)

Stetson

• Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (2001-06)

GORDON’S COLLEGE PLAYING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Tennessee (1985-89)

• 1988 U.S. Olympic gold medalist.
• Helped lead Tennessee to its first two NCAA National Championships in 1987 and 1989 and played in a (then) NCAA-record four consecutive Final Fours.
• Two-time Kodak and Naismith All-American and four-time All-SEC First Team selection.
• Named 1989 NCAA Final Four MVP, SEC Female Athlete of the Year and SEC Player of the Year.
• 1986 SEC Freshman of the Year after becoming first freshman to lead the Lady Vols in scoring.
• Named SEC Tournament MVP as UT won trophies in 1988 and 1989.
• Named to NCAA 25th Anniversary Team and Team of the Decade (1980s).
• Lady Vols were 115-21 during her four seasons on Rocky Top.
• Finished her career as the NCAA Tournament leader in scoring and field goals and set a record by connecting on 17 free throws in a single game against Long Beach State in 1989.
• Still ranks second at UT in career points (2,462) and steals (336).
• One of six Lady Vols to have her jersey (30) hanging in Thompson-Boling Arena (Jan. 17, 1990).
• 2012 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
• 2007 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
• 2002 DeLand (Fla.) High School Hall of Fame inductee.
• 2001 UT Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.

-UT Athletics