Karen Weekly is an American softball coach who is the head coach at Tennessee.[1] She was the co-head softball coach at Chattanooga from 1997–2001. She served as an assistant at both Chattanooga (1995–1996) and Pacific Lutheran (1987–1994). Weekly served as co-head coach at Tennessee along with her husband, Ralph Weekly, from 2002 through 2021 before her husband’s retirement.

Karen Weekly
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamTennessee
ConferenceSEC
Record1,181–369–3 (.761)
Biographical details
Alma materWashington
Pacific Lutheran
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987–1994Pacific Luthern (asst.)
1995–1996Chattanooga (asst.)
1997–1998Chattanooga (Co-HC)
1999–2000Chattanooga (Interim HC)
2001Chattanooga (Co-HC)
2002–2021Tennessee (Co-HC)
2022–presentTennessee
Head coaching record
Overall1,404–466–3 (.750)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
Records
  • Tennessee first SEC team to reach WCWS Championship Series
  • Tennessee first SEC team to reach #1 in polls (2007)

Early life and education

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Weekly attended college at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington, where she played softball from 1985 to 1987. She earned her juris doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle in 1990.[1]

Coaching career

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Pacific Lutheran (assistant)

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Assistant from 1987-1994

Chattanooga

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Assistant from 1995-1996

Co-head softball coach from 1997-2001

Tennessee

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On June 23, 2021, Karen Weekly signed an extension with Tennessee and her husband Ralph retired on the same day.[2] She signed another extension with Tennessee on June 16, 2023, her contract runs through 2028.[3]

Head coaching record

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College

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References:[1][4][5]

Record table
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Chattanooga Mocs (Southern Conference) (1997–2001)
1997 Chattanooga 32–195–31st
1998 Chattanooga 47–1510–21st
1999 Chattanooga 48–18*16–01st
2000 Chattanooga 47–27*15–51stNCAA Regional
2001 Chattanooga 49–1818–21stNCAA Regional
Chattanooga: 223–97 (.697)64–12 (.842)
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (2002–Present)
2002 Tennessee 35–25–18–174th (East)
2003 Tennessee 45–2514–154th (East)
2004 Tennessee 55–1620–81st (East)NCAA Regional
2005 Tennessee 67–1520–82nd (East)Women's College World Series
2006 Tennessee 61–1221–92nd (East)Women's College World Series
2007 Tennessee 63–823–41st (East)Women's College World Series Runner-Up
2008 Tennessee 50–1614–122nd (East)NCAA Regional
2009 Tennessee 40–18–112–12–13rd (East)NCAA Regional
2010 Tennessee 49–1517–83rd (East)Women's College World Series
2011 Tennessee 49–1220–82nd (East)NCAA Regional
2012 Tennessee 52–1422–61st (East)Women's College World Series
2013 Tennessee 52–1216–62nd (East)Women's College World Series Runner-Up
2014 Tennessee 46–1217–72ndNCAA Super Regional
2015 Tennessee 47–1715–9T-4thWomen's College World Series
2016 Tennessee 43–1616–7T-3rdNCAA Regional
2017 Tennessee 48–1216–7T-3rdNCAA Super Regional
2018 Tennessee 48–1414–104thNCAA Super Regional
2019 Tennessee 43–1714–10T-2ndNCAA Super Regional
2020 Tennessee 14–90–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Tennessee 42–1512–117thNCAA Regional
2022 Tennessee 41–1815–83rdNCAA Regional
2023 Tennessee 51–1019–51stWomen’s College World Series
2024 Tennessee 44–1219–51stNCAA Super Regional
2025 Tennessee 47–17–115–94thWomen's College World Series
2026 Tennessee 49–1216–8T-4thWomen's College World Series
Tennessee: 1,181–369–2 (.762)384–203–1 (.654)
Total:1,404–466–3 (.750)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

* – Karen Weekly was served as interim head coach at Chattanooga instead of Co-HC during Ralph Weekly's Leave of Absence.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Karen Weekly". UTSports.com. University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  2. Potkey, Rhiannon (June 23, 2021). "Tennessee's Ralph Weekly Retires, Karen Weekly Signs Extension". D1Softball.com. D1 Softball. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  3. Hall, Cora. "Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly gets nearly 50% raise, extension in season with SEC titles, WCWS trip". KnoxNews.com. www.KnoxNews.com. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  4. "2018 SEC Softball Record Book" (PDF). a.ESPNCDN.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  5. "SoCon Softball Record Book" (PDF). SoConSports.com. Southern Conference. Retrieved February 20, 2019.[permanent dead link]

Further reading

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