Lady Vols Fall Just Short Against Texas, as Vic Schaefer Reflects on the Pressure of Coaching Legacy Programs
The Lady Vols had their shot. Down by two with the clock winding down, Tennessee had a chance to steal a win at home against Texas - but the final look didn’t fall. Instead, it was the Longhorns who walked away with a gritty 65-63 win, leaving Tennessee just short of a statement victory.
Postgame, the focus wasn’t just on the scoreboard. Texas head coach Vic Schaefer took a moment to speak candidly about the weight that comes with leading a program like his - and how that pressure is something he shares with Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think anybody out there wants to walk in Coach Caldwell’s or my shoes,” Schaefer said, speaking not just as a coach coming off a win, but as someone who understands the grind of leading a tradition-rich program. “Texas, Tennessee, Stanford - those are programs that didn’t just show up in the ‘90s. These schools have been here since Day One.”
Schaefer’s comments weren’t just about the game. They were about the expectations that come with the job - the kind that don’t allow for “good enough.”
At schools like Texas and Tennessee, the bar is greatness. Anything less, and you're on the hot seat.
“When I took over at Texas, and when Coach Caldwell took over here, we didn’t sign up to be good,” Schaefer continued. “Good will get you fired. Our job is to get our kids to be great - because that’s what’s required at our schools.”
It was a rare moment of transparency in a sport where coaches often keep their cards close. Schaefer acknowledged the sacrifices that come with the job - the time away from family, the criticism that comes from fans and social media, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that never really lets up.
He made a point to defend Caldwell, who’s navigating her first season in Knoxville with a newborn at home and the weight of one of the sport’s most storied programs on her shoulders.
“Before you go criticizing coaches who sacrifice time with family - she’s got a newborn - come walk in their shoes,” Schaefer said. “This isn’t a nice life job.
If you want that, go to a three-name directional school where they don’t care. You don’t go to Tennessee or Texas to retire.”
There’s a certain truth to that. Programs like Tennessee and Texas don’t just want wins - they expect banners. And that expectation doesn’t come with a pause button, even when the roster is young, the schedule is tough, or the margin for error is razor-thin.
Schaefer also touched on the broader challenges of coaching in today’s college basketball landscape - where NIL, the transfer portal, and shifting player dynamics have changed the game in fundamental ways. But even with all that, he made it clear: his job, first and foremost, is to teach.
“I basically had my legs cut out from under me on so many things with how college athletics is today,” he said. “But I will not give in to teaching these kids accountability, responsibility.
That’s my job. That comes with the territory of being the head coach of Texas, Tennessee - and honestly, should be the standard anywhere.”
It was a powerful message, especially in the wake of a game that came down to the final possession. Tennessee may have fallen short on the scoreboard, but the bigger picture - the one that extends beyond wins and losses - was front and center in Schaefer’s comments.
For Caldwell and the Lady Vols, the journey continues. The expectations won’t ease up, but neither will the commitment to building something lasting. And if Sunday night was any indication, they’re not far off from turning close losses into defining wins.