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Karen WeeklyKAREN WEEKLY | HEAD COACH

A 25-year collegiate softball head coaching veteran boasting 1,172 career wins, Karen Weekly enters her 21st season at the helm of the Tennessee softball program. After serving as co-head coach alongside Ralph Weekly for 20 seasons at Tennessee, Weekly assumed all head coaching responsibilities upon her husband's retirement in June 2021.

Having guided UT to a staggering 949 victories and five top-three national finishes (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013) and seven appearances in the Women's College World Series (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015) since arriving to resuscitate the program prior to the 2002 season, Karen has made it evident that tireless recruiting and solid coaching can produce huge dividends to the UT softball program.

Weekly guided Tennessee to its 18th consecutive full season with 40-plus wins as the Lady Vols went 42-15 in her final season as a co-head coach. UT hosted the NCAA Knoxville Regional for the 16th year in a row and rounded out the season ranked No. 23 in the NFCA Division I Top 25 coaches poll.

 

Megan Rhodes SmithMEGAN RHODES SMITH | ASSISTANT COACH

Tennessee softball welcomed back LVFL Megan Rhodes Smith as an assistant coach on June 8, 2020. The 2022 season will mark her second year as the program's pitching coach.

A standout pitcher for the Lady Vols from 2005-08, Smith guided her staff to a 1.80 ERA in her first season as an assistant coach, ranking second in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA. The Lady Vols posted 18 shutouts and touted a 3.65 strikeout-to-walk ratio, both ranking third in the SEC and top-16 in the country.

Smith guided junior Ashley Rogers to second team All-America and first team All-SEC honors in 2021. The Athens, Tennessee, native led the conference in ERA (1.32) and opposing batting average (.132) and was top-7 in the country in both strikeouts (296, 5th NCAA) and wins (26, 7th NCAA).

Prior to her arrival on Rocky Top, Smith spent the 2019-20 season as the head coach at Belmont in her hometown of Nashville.

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Laura DukesLAURA DUKES | DIRECTOR OF softball OPERATIONS

Laura Dukes enters her first season as Tennessee's director of operations in 2023-24.

Dukes comes to Rocky Top with a wealth of experience, having served as an assistant coach and director of operations since 2020 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. A softball lifer, she had previous coaching stops at Belmont, Shepherd University and Austin Peay.

“We are thrilled to welcome Laura Dukes to the Lady Vol softball program as our Director of Operations,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “Through her various assistant coaching stops, Laura has gained valuable experience in the administrative and logistical aspects of running a Division I softball program. I am impressed with her organizational skills, attention to detail and overall commitment to excellence in all that she does. I have no doubt Laura will make our program better.”

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All of Tennessee Sports Camps are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender).

Note: The University may postpone or cancel this event due to circumstances or conditions beyond its control, such as, but not limited to, natural disasters, acts or war, acts of God, or public health emergencies. Neither party shall be liable for damages for delay or default if such delay or default is caused by circumstances or conditions beyond its control, such as, but not limited to, natural disasters, acts of war, acts of God, or health emergencies. The Parties will consult with other to determine if the event can be rescheduled. -- It is not permissible for boosters to provide expenses for individuals to attend any of the Tennessee Sports Camps. Expenses include but are not limited to, lodging meals, transportation, and/or camp tuition.