Nikki Fargas
Head Coaching Record:
UCLA head coach (2008-11): 72-26
LSU head coach (2011-present): 148-106
Pros:
When she played for the Lady Vols, Nikki Fargas (then Nikki Caldwell) was a standout defensive player and three-point shooter. She helped the Lady Vols win a title in 1991 and went on to do some broadcasting before coming back to UT to serve as a grad assistant for a season under Pat Summitt. She was hired on as an assistant again in 2002 and stayed with the program till 2008 before being hired as UCLA’s head coach. She found success with the Bruins, getting them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years before she left there to coach at LSU. Fargas got LSU to the Sweet Sixteen in two of her first three years and has taken them to the NCAA Tournament in all but two of her eight seasons there.
Cons:
A few years ago, Fargas would’ve been a much more serious contender for the Lady Vols’ job. But she’s on a bit of a downward spin with LSU. After going 66-36 in her first three seasons and taking LSU to the second round and two-straight Sweet Sixteens, she’s not won a game in the NCAA Tournament since and has missed the tournament altogether in two of the last four years.
2 Responses
She is a good coach. She did not have a good many players who could make enough shots against good teams. Possibly rebounding could have been stronger. Making the shots was the deal. Coach couldn’t shoot em in herself. Of course there is defense and I didn’t see them play enough to comment.
UConn and Tennesee will revive their competition in the near future which will be a good thing raising rafters like the old days!
I think the next Tennessee Vol Coach should be Kara Lawson or Candace Parker. GREAT ATHELETES!