Kellie Harper's name is "starting to heat up" in Auburn's head women's basketball coaching search as the Tigers aim to find a replacement for the recently fired Johnnie Harris. Harper, who last coached at Tennessee in 2024, sat out this past season.
The War Rapport's Mike Gittens reports Harper is in the mix but wouldn't come cheap -- likely asking for a similar salary figure to her tenure at Tennessee.
"Kellie Harper’s name is starting to heat up in Auburn’s search for a new women’s basketball coach," Gittens wrote.
"Hiring Harper I think would demonstrate a commitment to Women’s Basketball necessary for the program to move forward. Harper got fired from Tennessee after coming up just short of the Sweet 16 and has never had a losing record as a head coach. She was making $1.1 Million per year so she wouldn’t come cheap but in light of the timing of firing Johnnie Harris I think this would be a decent move.
"Auburn is expected to make a hire in the next 2 weeks."
The Athletic's Chantel Jennings reports Harper is in the mix for Missouri's job and would return for the right opportunity.
"I’ve also heard former Tennessee coach Kellie Harper and Missouri State’s Beth Cunningham in the mix. Harper has spent the last year as an analyst for the SEC Network, but it wouldn’t be out of the question to see her back on a sideline as soon as next season if she felt like the opportunity was right. Cunningham spent nine seasons as VCU’s head coach and also has assistant experience at VCU, Notre Dame and Duke. She has been at Missouri State since 2022," Jennings wrote.
The Mizzou domino might be the first to fall considering it's been open for far longer. Auburn will either have to wait for Missouri to resolve their search or John Cohen already has his man with the coach he previously hired at Mississippi State, Sam Purcell.