Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly has signed a contract extension that will keep her in Knoxville through 2030. Weekly has 30 years of college head coaching experience, totalling 1,355 wins. 2026 will be her 25th season atop the Lady Vols’ program.
“Karen has established a championship program in every area, and we are thrilled to have her coaching for the long term on Rocky Top,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said. “Competitive excellence is one of the core values of our athletics department, and Karen truly embodies this principle. We look forward to continuing our pursuit of titles under her dynamic leadership.”
Weekly has led Tennessee to 20-straight NCAA Regional appearances. This has featured 14 Super Regional showings and nine times making the Women’s College World Series. This includes the recent 2025 campaign, where UT fell just short of reaching the championship series. While the Lady Vols don’t have a national title, they have finished as the runner-up twice.
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In conference play, Weekly has led Tennessee to six SEC championships. This featured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, it was parlayed into an SEC Tournament championship, as well.
Weekly began her Lady Vols career coaching alongside her husband, Ralph Weekly. After his retirement in 2021, she continued to lead the program by herself. In the past three seasons, she has won 142 games and advanced to the national semifinals at the WCWS in 2023 and 2025.
“Ralph and I came to Tennessee because they invested in and valued women’s athletics more than anyone in the country,” Weekly said. “Entering my 25th season, the commitment to women is better than ever. We are truly the Everything School. I am privileged to coach at a university where every program and athlete matters. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the leadership provided by Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, Chancellor Donde Plowman, and President Randy Boyd. I am a Lady Vol for life!”
