Kim Caldwell is making strategic moves to bolster her coaching staff for the Lady Vols basketball team as she heads into her third year. The latest addition is Bill Ferrara Jr., previously the associate head coach at Florida State, bringing his expertise to Tennessee.
Ferrara joins a dynamic team under Caldwell's leadership, which includes Roman Tubner, Jenna Burdette, Angel Rizor, and Lexie Barrier. With Gabe Lazo reportedly leaving, Ferrara steps into an open role, ready to make an impact.
During his tenure at Florida State starting in the 2022-23 season, Ferrara orchestrated a high-octane offense that led Division I with an impressive 86.9 points per game in the 2024-25 season. His team featured TaNiya Latson, the nation’s top scorer, showcasing Ferrara’s ability to develop offensive talent.
Before his success with the Seminoles, Ferrara honed his coaching skills as the associate head coach at St. John’s for the 2021-22 season and as an assistant coach at New Mexico from 2017-21.
His experience in the SEC is notable, having served as an assistant at Florida from 2015-17 under Amanda Butler. Earlier in his career, he was part of the coaching staff at George Washington, where he coached future WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones.
Ferrara's diverse experience includes roles at Hofstra, Central Michigan, and as a video coordinator at Auburn, along with a stint as a basketball operations intern with the Charlotte Bobcats. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and a master’s in sports management from Florida.
The Lady Vols are looking to rebound from a challenging season, where they finished 16-14 overall and 8-8 in the SEC. As a 6-seed in the SEC Tournament, they fell to Alabama in the second round and were a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament, exiting in the Round of 64 against NC State.
With four players entering the transfer portal-Alyssa Latham, Kaniya Boyd, Lauren Hurst, and Deniya Prawl-Caldwell and her revamped staff will aim to reshape and strengthen the roster for the upcoming season. Ferrara's addition brings a fresh perspective and a proven track record of offensive prowess, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter for the Lady Vols.