Many people regard Knoxville native Holly Warlick as the most prolific basketball player to ever come out of the University of Tennessee. But what most don’t know, is that she came to UT on a track scholarship and joined the Lady Vols in her freshman year as a walk-on.
As a rookie, Warlick helped lead the Lady Vols to their first Final Four appearance in school history in 1977. As a player, she found herself in the Final Four three times (1977, 1979, 1980) and was national championship runner-up in her senior season. A three-time All-American while playing for Coach Pat Summitt, Warlick previously held UT records for most assists in a game (14), most steals in a game (nine), most assists in a season (225) and most games in a career (142). At the end of her college basketball career, Warlick was the first player in the history of Tennessee athletics (men or women) to have her jersey (No. 22) retired in 1980.
After receiving her B.S. in marketing from Tennessee, Warlick’s playing career took an international turn when she became a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic basketball team and played in the Pan American Games and World Championship competition. She was also a WPBL All-Star as she led the Nebraska Wranglers to the championship of the Women’s Professional Basketball League in 1981. She has served as a player representative on the USA Basketball Council and was a member of the USOC Advisory Council for Basketball.
In recognition of her status as a former Olympian, Warlick earned the distinct honor of running the Olympic torch through Knoxville as it made its way to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Known as a play-making wiz during her four years as UT’s point guard, Warlick was once labeled the “best player in the South” and a number of Halls of Fame agree. She has been enshrined in the University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame, The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, The Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame and was named to the CONVERSE/Lady Vol Team of the Decade for the 1980s.
As of her induction into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, Holly Warlick was called “coach,” marking her 19th year working alongside fellow Hall of Famer, head coach Pat Summitt, at the University of Tennessee.
Prior to the 2012-2013 season, Warlick replaced Pat Summitt as the head coach of the Lady Vols.