Shea Ralph of Vanderbilt women’s basketball signed a contract extension after leading the Commodores to their first Sweet 16 since 2009, the school announced April 22.
Ralph had previously signed an extension in October 2024, but the new one comes on the heels of Ralph being named national coach of the year by the AP, Naismith Committee and USBWA.
The terms of both the original and new extensions are not known because Vanderbilt is a private school and not required to release contract terms.
“Vanderbilt is built on bringing together the best people and brightest minds, and Shea Ralph exemplifies both,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a school release. “Five years ago, Shea was the first head coach hired after the launch of Vandy United, signaling our commitment to compete at the highest level across all programs. She has delivered on that vision and is the right leader to keep elevating our women’s basketball program while inspiring our broader community as we set the standard for women’s athletics.”
Ralph recruited and helped develop SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes and SEC Freshman of the Year Aubrey Galvan. The Commodores have qualified for three straight NCAA tournaments and were a No. 2 seed in 2026.
Vanderbilt had its most SEC wins in program history in 2025-26, finishing with a 13-3 record, and went undefeated at home for the first time in program history. The Commodores hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, defeating High Point and Illinois.
“When I arrived in Nashville, I said it felt like it was only the beginning of something incredible. And as much growth as we’ve had, the best part of being at Vanderbilt is I still feel that way every day,” Ralph said in the release. “Thanks to people who bought in and wanted to be part of building something to last, our best is still to come. Thanks to their trust, integrity and passion, we have the opportunity to compete for championships. And with an administration and supporters eager to invest in women, I’m excited about the opportunity ahead of us.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
