with Kellie Harper,
University of Tennessee Head Coach;
former Missouri State University Head Coach;
2x MVC Tournament champions (2016, 2019);
2019 Kay Yow Coach of the Year; 2019 MVC Coach of the Year;
former North Carolina State University Head Coach;
former Western Carolina University Head Coach;
2x SoCon Tournament champions (2005, 2009);
2007 SoCon regular season champions;
3x NCAA champion as a player at Tennessee under Pat Summitt
The Tennessee Lady Vols have a rich history of success. Pat Summitt built a program with a foundation of doing things the right way. One of Summitt's most accomplished players, Kellie Harper, is following in her footsteps as the current head coach of the Lady Vols.
In this video, Harper breaks down her defensive philosophy that is a combination of what she learned under Coach Summitt and what she has picked up during her own career as a player and coach.
On-Ball Defense
While playing under Pat Summitt, Harper had a great ability to stop the player she was guarding in their tracks. She had a lock-down mentality that whoever she was guarding would not get past her.
In this section, Harper teaches her players how to use a push step and cut off the offensive player. In her 1-on-1 Drills, she has athletes work on the push step by closing out and having the offensive player take 1-2 dribbles in one direction. This helps build great defending technique and athlete confidence.
Off-Ball Defense and Philosophy
With the philosophy of playing on one side of the court, Coach Harper demonstrates how her team allows the first pass to be made while positioning help defense in the gaps. Once the ball moves to the wing, she demonstrates why wing defenders need to close out high side and while the top of key denies the reversal pass.
Using 5v5 Shell Drill, Harper shows how to teach your players technique, stance, and positioning. The Lady Vols' golden rule for half court defense is to, "Be where you're supposed to be on the catch."
Ball Screen Defense
Defending the ball screen has become a top priority in today's game. Coach Harper demonstrates how her players get physical with their ball screen defense using their "locking up" technique. In a 2v2 drill, post players jam the screener and push them higher up the line as the guards get under the screen and beat their man to the middle.
Much like the legendary coach Pat Summitt taught her while a player for Tennessee, Coach Harper, to this day and now as the coach at Tennessee, focuses on 'the details' and 'doing things the right way.'
Harper's aggressive style of defense is on display in this excellent video that will greatly benefit your own defensive philosophy and drills!
58 minutes. 2020.