Dan Fleser: Holly Warlick Has Her Highs And Lows

KNOXVILLE – One moment, Holly Warlick was her usual ebullient self, armed with a microphone and ready to return wise-cracking fire Friday night at an event celebrating her career as a Tennessee Lady Vol.

An instant later, the former UT women’s basketball coach suddenly was overcome by emotion, choking on her words as former Lady Vols Bridgette Gordon and Cheryl Littlejohn moved to her side in support.

“You all know me, this is a stretch for me,” Warlick said.

“This isn’t my scene, to be honored.”

No matter, it was a setting that a group of former Tennessee players felt compelled and honored to create for one of their own. It was their way of recognizing and thanking Warlick for her service. She was fired in April after seven seasons as head coach. Former guard Pam Marr appreciated the full measure of Warlick’s career – 38 years as a former player, assistant, associate head coach and head coach – in calling her “the ultimate Lady Vol.”

Marr said beforehand that Friday’s gathering, which took place at the downtown Holiday Inn, already had been in the works. She noted that “things took a different turn” this spring and the evening’s agenda then shifted to Warlick.

“We became even more passionate about being able to meet with Holly,’’ Marr said, “and be able to celebrate with her as a group, as Lady Vols, and then to be able to share that with the public that wanted to come. It’s a special moment.”

Littlejohn, a lead organizer, set the evening’s tone by saying of Warlick: “She was the one to keep us up. So what are we doing tonight? We’re picking her up.”

The differing reactions by Warlick likely reflected what she has experienced since being relieved of her coaching duties. On the one hand, she looked rested and relaxed. But Marr imagined “the range of emotions” that have played out within Warlick during the past two-plus months.

“She needs some time and space,” Marr said.

In the meantime, she got plenty of love from Friday’s event. The affection was expressed in a wide-ranging manner.

For example, former teammate Trish Roberts needled Warlick about her lack of shooting touch, which enhanced Roberts’ scoring prowess.

“Holly couldn’t shoot and that’s how I padded my stats,” Roberts said. “I’d get the rebound and put it back in.”

Former guard Shelley Collier, on the other hand, was emotional about Warlick assuming command when former coaching legend Pat Summitt had to step down following the 2011-12 season because of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Summitt died in 2016.

“There was nobody else ready to take that on,” Collier said. “You did everything you could.”

Littlejohn presented Warlick with a bouquet of 38 roses in recognition of her years of UT service and said, “We like to give people roses while they can still smell them.”

Littlejohn also told Warlick: “What you have done in our lives is going to last forever. Life goes on. It’s time to go to the beach and live happily ever after.”

The celebration of Warlick came one night after her replacement, former Lady Vol Kellie Harper, was feted in her hometown of Sparta, Tn. Several UT officials who attended the Harper event also were present on Friday.

Marr said a conversation has begun regarding the Lady Vols alums meeting with Harper and the current team.

“I’m sure there’s going to be an opportunity for us with Kellie to get together,” Marr said. “She has her hands full (right now) but there will be plenty of time.”

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