Luke Combs Makes It Five for Forever After All

Luke Combs Makes It Five for Forever After All

Posted on June 29, 2021

Luke Combs is getting ready to launch his What You See Is What You Get 2021 tour later this week, with three straight shows in Orange Beach, AL – July 2nd thru the 4th.

Fans will be treated to all of Luke’s hits, including his number-one smash “Forever After All” – which is spending its 5th week at the top of the Billboard country airplay chart!!!!

For Luke, just getting back to performing is the main thing – it doesn’t matter if it’s a big or small stage, “There’s positives to both. You know I play in a small place, you get to meet people that have come and said ‘I have drove three or four hours to come see the show,’ and obviously that’s my favorite part of the whole thing because without those people I wouldn’t be getting to do what I am doing anyways. But the thing about the arena is the stages are bigger. You don’t really get to really use the stage too much at a smaller venue because you are kind of stuck in one place cause there is gear everywhere and this guy is right beside of you and your drummer is right behind you. On the big stage you have so much room to work with.”

Before he hits the stage later this week, Luke is sharing 2 new songs this week with his fans – the first of the two new tracks is “Good Old Days”

The other new song from Luke is coming on Thursday…of course, he’s still ruling the Billboard country airplay chart for the 5th week in a row with “Forever After All.”

Photo Credit: Jim Wright

Tennessee puts program record 90 on first-year SEC Academic Honor Roll

Tennessee puts program record 90 on first-year SEC Academic Honor Roll

Posted on June 29, 2021
University of Tennessee / Credit: UT Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee placed 90 student-athletes on the 2020-21 First-Year Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll that was announced Tuesday by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

That total was the most UT has ever had on the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. It marked an improvement of five over the 85 who made the list in 2019-20.

Furthermore, those numbers raised Tennessee’s total number of student-athletes recognized in 2020-21 to a program-record 358 combined on the Fall, Winter, Spring and First-Year SEC Academic Honor Rolls. That’s an improvement of 46 over last year and marks the sixth-consecutive year that Tennessee has seen an increased total number of student-athletes on SEC Honor Rolls.

The sum of 358 honorees translates to 65 percent of UT’s student-athletes being on SEC Academic Honor Rolls during the past academic year and also equates to improvement of nearly 200 percent from the 187 who received honors in 2014-15.

On the 2020-21 First-Year SEC Honor Roll, the baseball team led the way for Tennessee with 16 student-athletes recognized, followed by rowing with 15 and men’s swimming and diving with 13. Other programs with recipients include women’s swimming and diving (8), football (7), men’s basketball (5), softball (5), women’s basketball (4), men’s tennis (4), men’s track & field (3), soccer (3), women’s track & field (2), women’s tennis (2), women’s golf (2) and volleyball (1).

A total of 1,130 student-athletes from around the league were named to the 2020-21 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll, which is based on grades from the 2020-21 academic calendar.

Any student‐athlete who participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or a student‐athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the Academic Honor Roll.

The following criteria will be followed:

(1) A student‐athlete must have a grade point average of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above at the nominating institution.

(2) If a student‐athlete attends summer school, his/her grade point average during the summer academic term must be included in the calculation used to determine eligibility for the Academic Honor Roll.

(3) Student‐athletes eligible for the Honor Roll include those receiving an athletics scholarship, recipients of an athletics award (i.e., letter winner), and non-scholarship student‐athletes who have been on a varsity team for two seasons.

(4) Prior to being nominated, a student‐athlete must have successfully completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of non‐remedial academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree at the nominating institution.

(5) The student‐athlete must have been a member of a varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

First-year student‐athletes in all sports may be named to the Honor Roll at the conclusion of their first full academic year in residence (spring, fall and summer terms).

2020-21 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll 
University of Tennessee 

Baseball (16)
Colin Ahearn – Management
Charez Butcher – Sociology
Jared Dickey – Recreation & Sport Management
Cade Elliott – Finance
Hunter Ensley – Recreation & Sport Management
Hollis Fanning – Forestry
Jake Fitzgibbons – Recreation & Sport Management
Jackson Greer – Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Ben Joyce – Finance
Reed Metz – Recreation & Sport Management
Drew Patterson – Biological Sciences
Shawn Scott – Recreation & Sport Management
Zander Sechrist – Forestry
Logan Steenstra – Kinesiology
Charlie Taylor – Supply Chain Management
Blade Tidwell – Recreation & Sport Management

Men’s Basketball (5)
E.J. Anosike – Ag Economics
Kent Gilbert – Recreation & Sport Management
Cole Morris – Civil Engineering
Isaiah Sulack – Management
Corey Walker Jr. – Recreation & Sport Management

Women’s Basketball (4)
Tess Darby – Finance
Keyen Green – MS – Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Marta Suárez – Physics
Jordan Walker – MS – Business Administration

Football (7)
Will Albright – University Exploratory
Tee Hodge – University Exploratory
RJ Perry – University Exploratory
Doneiko Slaughter – University Exploratory
Jabari Small – University Exploratory
Javontez Spraggins – University Exploratory
Len’Neth Whitehead – University Exploratory

Women’s Golf (2)
Vanessa Gilly – Finance
Kayla Holden – Nutrition

Rowing (15)
Casey Chronister – Mechanical Engineering
Kelly Flanagan – Psychology
Erin Gifford – Human Resource Management
Ella Hill – Psychology
Hannah Hobby – University Exploratory
Elena Jerkovic – Biological Sciences
Natalia Loram – Political Science
Isabella McAnally – Accounting
Macy Monday – Kinesiology
Allison Reitz – Finance
Madeleine Rott – Nutrition
Emma Seawright – Biological Sciences
Adrianna Thrasher – Finance
Sophia Von Dauber – Biological Sciences
Logan Yates – Nutrition

Women’s Soccer (3)
Caitlin Foley – Communication Studies
Sydney Hennessey – Kinesiology
Lawson Renie – Business

Softball (5)
Kaylan Cole – Audiology & Speech Pathology
Ivy Davis – MS in Communication & Information – Public Relations Concentration
Bailey McCachren – Biomedical Engineering
Caliyah Thompson – Neuroscience
Rylie West – Journalism & Electronic Media

Men’s Swimming & Diving (13)
Micah Chambers – Kinesiology
Jack Gillespie – Neuroscience
Will Jackson – Business
Joseph Jordan – Kinesiology
Jacob McDonald – University Exploratory
Alexander Milanovich – Business Analytics
Jacob Narvid – Accounting
Rafael Ponce de Leon Castilla – Business Analytics
Jacob Reasor – Business
Dillon Richardson – Marketing
Dain Ripol – Supply Chain Management
Joey Tepper – Chemical Engineering
Jordan Tiffany – University Exploratory

Women’s Swimming & Diving (8)
Jordan Aurnou‐Rhees – Management
Alyssa Breslin – University Exploratory
Elle Caldow – Hospitality & Tourism Management
Nicola Lane – Biological Sciences
Margaret Marando – Architecture
Mona McSharry – University Exploratory
Berit Quass – Accounting
Annie Rimmer – Recreation/Sport Management

Men’s Tennis (4)
Joel Gamerov – MS in Communication & Information – Advertising Concentration
Josh Raab – Construction Science
Coy Simon – Supply Chain Management
Trey Stinchcomb – Business Analytics

Women’s Tennis (2)
Esther Adeshina – Management
Eleonora Molinaro – Kinesiology

Men’s Track & Field (3)
Spencer Brown – Recreation/Sport Management
Mike Griffin – Recreation/Sports Management
Daniel Igbokwe – MS in Management & Human Resources

Women’s Track & Field (2)
Caroline Lewis – Anthropology
Callie Tucker – Neuroscience

Volleyball (1)
JaKya Moore – Recreation/Sport Management

2020-21 FIRST-YEAR SEC ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

-UT Athletics

ALABAMA Ready to Get Going for Their 50th Anniversary Tour

ALABAMA Ready to Get Going for Their 50th Anniversary Tour

Posted on June 29, 2021

Are you ready for some “Mountain Music”?

ALABAMA is hitting the road again for their long-awaited 50th Anniversary tour — much of which was delayed due to Covid-19.

The schedule, starting in Nashville this week, consists of nearly 30 arena and amphitheater live concerts that will see ALABAMA playing dates from now until early 2022.

The guys are also pulling out all the stops with special guests on the tour – including Martina McBride, The Marshall Tucker Band, Travis Tritt, Sara Evans, America, Grits & Glamour (Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis), Tracy Lawrence, The Beach Boys, The Frontmen of Country (Richie McDonald formerly of Lonestar, Tim Rushlow formerly of Little Texas & Larry Stewart of Restless Heart) and Jake Hoot will join ALABAMA on select dates.

ALABAMA lead singer Randy Owen shares, “We are very thankful that we can play our music for our loyal fans of the past 50 years and introduce our songs to a new 3rd and 4th generation of new fans.”

He adds, “We have rehearsed an all-new show that we are having fun performing, but you never know, we might even take requests from time to time. There’s nothing like the roar of the crowd, and we can’t wait to get back on the road.”

Talking about the line-up of tour guests, ALABAMA bass player and vocalist Teddy Gentry says “We are blessed to have the most amazing group of musicians and vocalists that we have ever had on the road. In addition, we wanted to bring along some special friends to join us on tour each night. From The Marshall Tucker Band to Travis Tritt and Martina McBride to The Beach Boys, what a party we are going to have. I can’t tell you how ready we are to see and play for you.”

2021 – 2022 ALABAMA 50th Anniversary tour schedule:
July 2 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (w/ Martina McBride)
July 3 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (w/ Martina McBride)
July 23 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (w/ Tracy Lawrence)
July 24 – Salisbury, MD – Wicomico Youth & Civic Center (w/ Tracy Lawrence)
July 25 – York, PA – York State Fair (w/ Jake Hoot)
Aug 6 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater (w/ Martina McBride)
Aug 7 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
Aug 13 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center (w/ Martina McBride)
Aug 14 – Bristol, TN – Thunder Valley Amphitheatre (w/ America)
Aug 27 – Madison, WI – Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center (w/ Travis Tritt)
Aug 28 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena (w/ The Frontmen of Country: Richie McDonald formerly of Lonestar, Tim Rushlow formerly of Little Texas & Larry Stewart of Restless Heart)
Sept 4 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
Sept 5 – Laughlin, NV – Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater at Harrah’s
Sept 16 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
Sept 17 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
Sept 25 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Oct 7 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena (w/ Tracy Lawrence)
Oct 8 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum (w/ Sara Evans)
Oct 22 – Forth Worth, TX – Dickies Arena (w/ Grits & Glamour: Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis)
Oct 23 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center (w/ Grits & Glamour: Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis)
Dec 5 – Savannah, GA – Savannah Civic Center (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
Jan 15 – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse (w/ Martina McBride)
Jan 21 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena (w/ Martina McBride)
Jan 22 – Tallahassee, FL – Donald L. Tucker Civic Center (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
Feb 12 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena (w/ The Beach Boys)

*More dates to be announced

Tickets for the tour are on-sale now. Purchasing information can be found on the band’s official website: thealabamaband.com. Previously purchased tickets for rescheduled dates will be honored at each show. Fans who are now unable to attend may request a refund. Eligibility for a refund requires a previous purchase through Ticketmaster – tickets that were transferred, posted, or sold will not be honored.

Photo Credit: Alan Messer

Jimmy’s blog: Vitello said he’s reached `verbal agreement on some things’ at UT

Jimmy’s blog: Vitello said he’s reached `verbal agreement on some things’ at UT

Posted on June 29, 2021

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee baseball coach Tony vitello said he has reached a “verbal agreement with some things,’’ a strong indication he will return to Rocky Top next season, Vitello said Monday on WNML’s SportsTalk radio show.

“There’s a lot going a lot going on with what we’re trying to do with the facilities. I can tell you there’s been constant communication with the administration, which is nice. Also there’s a lot of kicking the can down the road a little bit, if that makes sense.’’

Vitello said he would like to enlarge 4,500-seat Lindsey Nelson Stadium with skyboxes and/or seats down the third-base line. He would also like some infrastructure improvements and more money for his staff.

Vitello didn’t want to negotiate a new deal during the season so as not to be a “distraction’’ to the team or staff.

“The healthiest thing for anyone involved with the Vol Nation was for some things to get moved down the road, so maybe things happen later than some expected,’’ Vitello said.

“There’s progress being made every day.’’

Vitello did not indicate a time frame for signing a new deal. Sources said Vitello could make between $1.2-to-1.5 million per year with an extension that would take him through the 2026 season.

When it was suggested Tennessee fans might have been happier than LSU fans that the Tigers hired Arizona coach Jay Johnson, Vitello chuckled.

“I appreciate you saying that,’’ vitello said. “because what I got in there I think was a compliment and what I also got in there was disgruntled LSU fans, and we’ll take that any day of the week.’’

Obviously, with LSU hiring Jay Johnson of Arizona, that lessoned the chances of Vitello leaving UT.

It’s not a given that Vitello would have taken the LSU job if offered, considering the amount of pressure that goes with the territory.

Vitello was a hero for getting UT to the CWS. Former LSU coach Smoke Laval went to two College World Series and was fired because he didn’t win one. In 15 years at LSU, Paul Mainieri won one national championship and went to five CWS, but that was a disappointment to many of the Tiger faithful, who saw Skip Bertman win five CWS in 10 years.

Texas A&M had Vitello high on its list, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.

Vitello didn’t argue with the notion that Tennessee had a disappointing end to a great season, going 0-2 in the CWS.

“Everyone was a little bitter about how things went in Omaha,’’ Vitello said. “It may sound like a loser’s mentality … I feel you’ve got to get there first to play your best.’’

Vitello said his team is looking for a theme for next year, the “Last Dance’’ theme of the Chicago Bulls under Phil Jackson.

“Our goal is to win one game in Omaha next year,’’ Vitello said. “Obviously, you’d like to win two, but you can’t win the second if you don’t win the first.’’

UT had a remarkable season. The Vols won the SEC East Division, made Omaha for the first time since 2005, had more wins (50) than any team in the CWS field, lost only two SEC series (at home to No. 1 Vanderbilt and later No. 1 Arkansas), had seven walk-off wins and hit six grand slams.

UT even had a watch party outside of Lindsey Nelson Stadium, for crying out loud.

Vitello has instilled a new energy in Tennessee baseball that was absent for more than a dozen years.

And if there is concern that Vitello can sustain his success at UT, remember, the Vols were 15-2 last year before the pandemic shuttered the season, with perhaps a more talented roster than the one that just went to the CWS.

Also, the state of Tennessee is loaded with talented baseball players, and Vitello is an ace recruiter.

There’s no reason to think Vitello can’t sustain success.

Of course, when you’ve tasted the CWS, expectations rise. They also rise when you get a lucrative contract. Just ask Rick Barnes. While Barnes probably doesn’t feel any added pressure, fan unrest occurred last season when the talented Vols were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by relatively obscure Oregon State, which had to win the Pac-12 tournament to make the field.

“It was pretty cool what happened last year,’’ Vitello said, “and I think it can get even better.’’

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all 

A Day In The Country – June 29th – Gabby Barrett, Brett Eldredge, Blake Shelton, & George Strait

A Day In The Country – June 29th – Gabby Barrett, Brett Eldredge, Blake Shelton, & George Strait

Posted on June 29, 2021

This is A Day in the Country with Paul Koffy – June 29th

On this day in 2020, Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” is certified double-platinum

In 2014, Brett Eldredge was at number-one with “Beat Of The Music.”

In 2012 Blake Shelton’s hit song, “Honey Bee” was certified Double-Platinum

And on this day in 2002, George Strait was at number-one with “Living and Living Well”

Photo Credit: David McClister

Vescovi Makes Uruguay’s Olympic Qualifying Roster

Vescovi Makes Uruguay’s Olympic Qualifying Roster

Posted on June 28, 2021
Santiago Vescovi – Vols G / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee junior guard Santiago Vescovi has made Uruguay’s 12-man Olympic qualifying team and is set to begin qualifying competition in Victoria, Canada on Tuesday.

After having previously been named to the initial 16-man roster, Vescovi made the cut for the finalized 12-man roster after having practiced in Uruguay with the team for the past two weeks.

Vescovi and Uruguay will now contending for a spot in the Tokyo Olympics field through competing in the Victoria FIBA Qualifying Tournament, which begins Tuesday and runs through July 4.

The members of Uruguay’s 12-man roster are set to begin competition in group stage games against Turkey and Czech Republic on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before advancing to a bracket stage that will also include two of Greece, China and Canada. The winner of the bracket stage will earn a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, which are scheduled to run from July 23 through August 8.

Overall, 12 countries qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup produced seven of those qualifying teams, and Japan received an automatic bid as the event’s hosts. The remaining four spots in the field are reserved for the winners of the four different FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournaments.

After joining the Tennessee program midway through the 2019-20 season, Vescovi has been a key contributor for the Volunteers for one and a half seasons. The Montevideo, Uruguay, native has started 42 of his 46 games as a Vol and owns a career average of 9.5 points per game. Last season, Vescovi led Tennessee in minutes and assists per game, while his 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio also led the team and was second among all SEC players.

-UT Athletics

A Day In The Country – June 28th – Kacey Musgraves, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert & Brad Paisley

A Day In The Country – June 28th – Kacey Musgraves, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert & Brad Paisley

Posted on June 28, 2021

This is A Day in the Country with Paul Koffy – June 28th

On this day in 2019, Kacey Musgraves’ album Golden Hour was certified gold.

In 2016, Tim McGraw was at number-one with “Humble and Kind.”

On this day in 2010, Miranda Lambert was in the middle of a 4 week run at number one with her blockbuster hit “The House that Built Me.”

And in 2007, Brad Paisley’s video for “Online” starring Jason Alexander debuts.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

Jameson Rodgers Thinks He Just Has To Show Up To His Wedding

Jameson Rodgers Thinks He Just Has To Show Up To His Wedding

Posted on June 28, 2021

Jameson Rodgers is getting married this year to his fiancée Sarah, and while there’s a lot of planning to be done…in the end, he thinks he just kind of has to show up.

Jameson shares how the wedding planning is going…

Between now the wedding Jameson also has to plan to host a bunch of concert dates…

We’re sure that one of those million little things that Jameson has to do for the wedding is making sure there’s plenty of cold ones for the guests.

Jameson is climbing the country airplay charts with Luke Combs and “Cold Beer Calling My Name”

Photo Credit: Matthew Berinato

Vitello Tabs VFL Richard Jackson as New Volunteer Assistant Coach

Vitello Tabs VFL Richard Jackson as New Volunteer Assistant Coach

Posted on June 26, 2021
Richard Jackson / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello announced on Saturday that VFL Richard Jackson will take over the role of volunteer assistant coach after spending the previous two seasons as a student assistant coach for the Volunteers.

Jackson will take the place of former volunteer assistant Ross Kivett, who recently accepted a full-time assistant coaching position at the University of Houston.

“The secret sauce, if any, to our program is that we have some of the best assistant coaches and support personnel in college baseball,” Vitello said. “It has become a routine for those folks to receive outside offers since we have been in Knoxville.

“Due to NCAA limits on two paid assistants in baseball, the one thing we can’t offer Ross right now is a full-time position with benefits. Houston could do that. We are happy to see one Vol rewarded for his efforts and success. We are equally excited to see another Vol move up to fill in the void left behind.”

During the last two seasons as a student assistant coach, Jackson worked closely with pitching coach Frank Anderson to develop one of the country’s top pitching staffs.

This past season, Tennessee’s pitching staff ranked in the top 10 nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd – 3.63), walks allowed/nine innings (3rd – 2.49), WHIP (5th – 1.16) and ERA (10th – 3.51) as the Big Orange won 50 games for just the third time in program history and advanced to the College World Series for the first time since 2005.

During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Vols ranked among the top 25 in the nation in a handful of statistical categories, including: WHIP (0.94 – second), ERA (2.00 – fourth), hits allowed/nine innings (6.41 – 16th), shutouts (three – 12th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.89 – third) and walks allowed/nine innings (2.06 – third).

Prior to joining Vitello’s staff as a student assistant, Jackson was a pitcher for the Vols from 2015-19. Under the guidance of Anderson, Jackson completely changed his delivery prior to the 2019 season and had a breakout campaign in which he helped lead the Big Orange to the NCAA regionals for the first time since 2005.

The Atlanta native went 1-0 and posted careers bests in ERA (1.40), appearances (21), innings pitched (19.1) and strikeouts (21) while holding opponents to a .119 batting average. In his final outing with UT, Jackson threw 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit while tying a career high with four strikeouts against No. 14 North Carolina in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional.

In his new role, Jackson will also coordinate and oversee Tennessee’s year-round baseball camps.

-UT Athletics

Karen Weekly Announces Hiring of Chris and Kate Malveaux

Karen Weekly Announces Hiring of Chris and Kate Malveaux

Posted on June 25, 2021
Chris and Kate Malveaux – UT Softball / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Friday, Tennessee softball head coach Karen Weekly announced the addition of Chris and Kate Malveaux to the Lady Vols’ coaching staff.

“I feel like we hit a bottom of the 7th game-winning grand slam with the hire of Chris & Kate Malveaux,” Weekly said. “Both are students of the game and exceptional teachers. Chris is one of the best and most innovative hitting coaches in college softball. Kate is an excellent catching instructor and has also spent extensive time coaching hitting during her career. Most important, they are high quality people who will bring passion and energy to work every day. They share our goal of winning and bringing championships to the Lady Vols. It’s a great day for UT Softball.”

Chris Malveaux, a Houston, Texas, native has spent the past three seasons at Missouri as an assistant coach and two years as an associate head coach. During his three seasons in Columbia, the Missouri offense improved each year – hitting .284 in 2019, .290 in the COVID shortened 2020 season and jumping up to .320 in 2021.

This past season, the Tigers .320 batting average ranked second in the Southeastern Conference. The Mizzou squad finished the 2021 season with 91 home runs, 382 runs scored and 184 extra base hits.

Championed as one of the nation’s best hitting coaches, in 2019 Mizzou’s Brooke Wilmes was named to the All-SEC first team, as well as NFCA Second Team All-Southeast Region, in her first year under Chris Malveaux. Then freshman Jazymn Rollin was a Top 25 finalist for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Freshman of the Year that same season.

Prior to joining Missouri, Chris Malveaux was the video coordinator at Kansas in 2018 and served as the associate head coach at Louisiana from 2016-17 – it was his second stay with the Ragin’ Cajuns as he was an assistant coach with ULL from 2009-11.

The 2010 Louisiana staff was selected as the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after compiling a 45-18 record, making an NCAA Super Regional appearance and No. 16 national ranking. In his five combined seasons at Louisiana, Malveaux was a member of five Sun Belt Conference and Tournament Championships, five NCAA Regionals and two NCAA Super Regional bids.

Chris Malveaux served as an assistant coach at Bradley from 2012-15 and was the head coach at McNeese State from 2005-08 after being promoted from assistant coach, a title he held at McNeese from 2002-04.

Chris Malveaux is a 2001 graduate from Texas A&M and will serve as Tennessee’s assistant/hitting coach.

“We are so very fortunate to have this opportunity to be a part of Rocky Top,” Chris Malveaux said. “Thank you to the Weekly’s for trusting us to be a part of this historic program. Ralph and Karen have made such a tremendous impact in the world of softball. It’s truly an honor to have their trust in not just continuing, but building onto its success. We can’t wait to get in and get to work in helping bring Tennessee back to the Women’s College World Series.”

Kate Malveaux, formerly Kate Singler, will also join the staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Kate Malveaux was on the Missouri softball staff the last two seasons as its director of operations.

“This is such an exciting time for Lady Vols softball, and we are so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of such an iconic program and university,” Kate Malveaux said. “I am humbled to join Karen’s staff and am grateful for her vision of how Chris and I can help take this program to the next level.

“I am beyond thrilled to get back on the field and am honored to do so in orange and white. This is a program that’s so rich in tradition and they are fierce competitors. With the groundwork laid by Karen and the strong commitment of women’s athletics at Tennessee, the sky is the limit for this group.”

A standout softball player at Bradley, Kate Malveaux served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Braves in 2012. As a player, she was a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and a first-team MVC Scholar-Athlete. Kate Malveaux also earned First-Team Capital One Academic All-District V honors her senior season.

In her junior and senior seasons, she led Bradley in RBIs back-to-back years, becoming just the fifth player in program history to do so.

-UT Athletics

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