Karen Weekly is an American softball coach who currently serves as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, where she excels in her position. She is a highly qualified and revered figure in the world of collegiate softball coaching. With an impressive 26-year career to her name, 2023 marks her 22nd season as the head coach of the Tennessee softball program.
What sets Weekly apart is not only their vast experience in the sport but also their remarkable track record, boasting a staggering 1,213 career wins. She was an assistant head coach at Tennessee for two decades before assuming full responsibility as head coach in June 2021.
Early life
According to online records, Karen was born on September 15 and grew up in Edmonds, Washington, USA. Chuck Kvale and Ruthann Kvale are Karen Weekly’s parents. Her parents were incredibly kind and encouraging. Weekly comes from a progressive family that raised her and her sisters never to let gender get in the way of their dreams. Kristi and Kathy Kvale are Karen Weekly’s sisters.
Karen loved basketball, although her main games were softball and tennis. She was a two-sport star at Pacific Lutheran University and competed in both basketball and softball. She was also inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame and recognized as the first All-American in the softball program.
Speaking of education at Weekly, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. She then enrolled at the University of Washington School of Law. She had always dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but after attending classes she felt empty and feared she was losing her ability to play sports. Nevertheless, she received her Juris Doctor in 1990. Weekly attended Pacific Lutheran University where she played softball from 1985-87.
Karen Weekly career
From 1990 to 1994 she was an attorney at Williams, Kastner & Gibbs in Seattle before becoming a coach. In August 1995, Weekly began working as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In this position, she taught a course entitled The Legal Environment of Business. There she had the opportunity to continue her coaching studies. She later moved to Tennessee and began working at Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison in Chattanooga.
During her tenure, Weekly transformed the Tennessee softball program and breathed new life into it since its arrival ahead of the 2002 season. Under her leadership, the team has achieved remarkable success, racking up 990 wins and securing five national top-three finishes in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2013. The program has also made seven appearances in the prestigious Women’s College World Series of their caliber in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015.
It’s evident that Weekly’s tireless dedication to recruiting talented players and her solid coaching strategies have brought tremendous benefits to the Tennessee softball program. With her wealth of experience and proven track record, Karen Weekly continues to be a respected figure in the softball community. As another season begins, she remains committed to pushing the boundaries and taking her team to even greater heights.
Karen Weekly Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Karen Weekly |
| birth date | September 15, |
| Age (Approx.) | 56 years |
| Place of birth | United States |
| Profession | softball coach |
| University | University of Washington |
| qualification | graduate |
Physical Statistics | |
| Height | in feet inches – 5 feet 7 inches – in centimeters – 170 cm |
| Weight | in kilograms – 76kg – in pounds – 167 pounds |
| Hair color | Brown |
| eye color | Brown |
Karen Weekly Family | |
| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
relationship status | |
| Marital status | Married |
| Who is Karen Weekly’s husband? | Ralph Weekly |
| Children | – |
Personal life
Ralph Weekly, the former Tennessee head coach who retired in 2021, is Karen Weekly’s husband. He previously worked as a special agent for the US Air Force. The two began dating when they were students at Pacific Lutheran University. Ralph was a softball coach there and Karen offered to help. They later began dating and married in 1994. Additionally, the couple served as Lady Vols’ trainers from 2002 until Ralph’s retirement.
Karen Weekly’s husband is proud of her and loves to brag about her achievements. In one of the interviews, he claimed that his wife was the most effective trainer he had ever worked with. The couple also enjoys traveling and Karen often tweets pictures from their trips. Karen and her partner have two children, Marc Weekly and John Weekly.
Karen Weekly Net Worth
With a professional career spanning more than two decades, she has built a significant name and money. She has also earned a good reputation. Therefore, Karen Weekly’s net worth has to be estimated at around $10 million based on her coaching career.
Facts About Karen Weekly
- On Twitter, Karen has a following of 20.9k people.
- In her Twitter bio, she refers to her husband as “Twitterless Ralph.”
- According to a source, Marc is Karen Weekly’s stepson.