Lady Vols assistant coach let go

Roman Tubner was fired Thursday after two seasons as an assistant coach with Lady Vols basketball on coach Kim Caldwell’s staff, sources tell Volquest.

Tubner’s dismissal comes three days after assistant coach Gabe Lazo resigned. He was hired at LSU under coach Kim Mulkey the follow days. Caldwell acted swiftly, hiring Bill Ferrara from Florida State to fill Lazo’s position. Now, she has another spot to fill on her staff.

Tubner was hired away from Alabama to join Caldwell at Tennessee as Caldwell sought SEC experience on her initial staff to help her with scouting as well as recruiting at the SEC level. 

Caldwell hired Tubner and also hired Lazo from Mississippi State. Both were key to securing top-10 recruiting classes and top-5 transfer portal classes as the Lady Vols went to the Sweet 16 in Caldwell’s first year and was a preseason top-10 team to start the 2025-2026 season. 

When Caldwell was hired, she brought Jenna Burdette with her from Marshall. Burdette also worked with Caldwell at Glennville State. Burdette served as the interim head coach last year when Caldwell missed the Texas game for the birth of her son.

In addition to Burdette, Caldwell brough Angel Rizor with her from Marshall. Caldwell also hired Lexie Barrier who had worked with Burdette at Marshall before Caldwell got the head job there. Caldwell.

Burdette, Rizor and Barrier remain on the staff.