Tennessee softball is undergoing some serious coaching changes after coming up just a game short of reaching the national championship series of the WCWS. The Lady Vols and assistant coaches Craig Snider and Stephanie Sanders parted ways, opening two jobs.
Now, one of them has been filled. Head coach Karen Weekly has hired Ehren Earleywine as her associate head coach after he served in the same role for Texas last year. That means he’s coming off a national title with the Longhorns after eliminating Tennessee in the semifinals.
“I am thrilled to welcome Ehren Earleywine to the Tennessee Lady Vol softball family,” Weekly said. “Ehren is a proven winner and one of the most brilliant minds in college softball. His resume speaks for itself. In both head and assistant coach roles, Ehren has achieved tremendous success everywhere he has been. He understands how to create relationships with student-athletes that allow them to become the best versions of themselves. I have known Ehren for over 25 years and am beyond excited to work together to bring championships to Rocky Top.”
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As the associate head coach, Earleywine will serve as Tennessee’s hitting coach. This comes after the offense stalled out against Texas in consecutive games to mark the end of the season. Though Karlyn Pickens is out of eligibility, the hope is that the pitching can remain elite while the hitting takes a step forward to get the Lady Vols over the hump for their first national title.
“I am incredibly excited to join the Tennessee softball program,” Earleywine said. “This is a place defined by a rich tradition of winning, passionate people, and a vision that aligns perfectly with where I want to be both personally and professionally for the long term. I want to specifically thank Karen Weekly and the University of Tennessee administration for the opportunity to be part of something so special. I’m honored by their trust and look forward to helping build on the championship standard that makes Tennessee softball one of the premier programs in the country.
“I’m leaving Texas with nothing but gratitude. It’s been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life, and I’ll always be proud to have been a Longhorn. My sincere thanks to Coach Mike White and the administration for their belief, support, and professionalism from day one. The program is in great hands and will continue to win championships for many years to come.”
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Earleywine is a native of Missouri and a graduate of Westminster College. He was a four-time member and two-time captain of Team USA men’s fastpitch softball, earning four international medals and six American Softball Association All-American nods.
As a coach, Earleywine started on the softball side with Georgia Tech from 2002-03 as an assistant. Then, he took over as head coach from 2004-06. That led to him taking the head coaching job at Missouri within the SEC, a role he held from 2007-17. He was fired just ahead of the 2018 season after being investigated by the athletic department and Missouri Title IX office for verbal abuse of players.
After that, he was the athletic director for Jefferson City Public Schools before returning as an assistant at Ole Miss in 2025 and Texas in 2026.
