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Apr 23, 2026
Claire Watkins
Vanderbilt is locking down its head coach, extending Shea Ralph’s contract after she led the Commodores to last month’s historic Sweet 16 finish.
Coming off the most successful season in program history, Ralph oversaw a Vanderbilt squad that went 29-5 in the regular season — including 13 wins in the stacked SEC.
“When I arrived in Nashville, I said it felt like it was only the beginning of something incredible,” Ralph said. “And as much growth as we’ve had, the best part of being at Vanderbilt is I still feel that way every day.”
“Vanderbilt is built on bringing together the best people and brightest minds, and Shea Ralph exemplifies both,” Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee said. “Her well-deserved recognition only reinforces what we see every day—she makes teams better, empowers women and brings people together.”
Ralph swept this year’s coaching awards, winning both AP and Naismith Coach of the Year after taking Vanderbilt to the NCAA tournament in three of her five years at the helm — ending the team’s 10-year drought.
“Shea Ralph exemplifies our commitment across the university to attract the most talented people who fit our culture and put them in an environment where they can succeed,” said Vanderbilt chancellor Daniel Diermeier.
“By forging a collaborative culture dedicated to growth on and off the court, Shea has helped our student-athletes realize the full heights of their potential, galvanized our One Vanderbilt community and demonstrated to a national audience what is possible here. I look forward to seeing her lead our program forward.”
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