The 47-year-old Harper is both a veteran of coaching and familiar with the state she will now coach in. Before taking the Tennessee job, Harper was the head coach at Missouri State from 2013-19, leading the Lady Bears to two NCAA Tournament appearances — one of which included a trip to the Sweet 16.

Mittie can now focus on coaching the Wildcats without that distraction looming over him or the team as they head to Lexington, Kentucky for their first game in the NCAA Tournament this week. No. 5 seed K-State will place No. 12 seed Fairfield on Friday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPNEWS.