”Tennessee is a one of one school,” Justin Caldwell said, of his wife Kim’s decision to accept the head coaching job for the Lady Vols. ”When I got a call from Tennessee, to me it was a no-brainer. You can win a national title here.’’ He scored nearly 2,000 points in college, and he also coached alongside his wife, so Justin’s journey is every bit as compelling as hers. With Kim Caldwell still making moves in women’s basketball, her husband’s story is another note in their inspirational partnership.

But who is Justin Caldwell, exactly? In addition to being Kim’s rock, he’s also a former college basketball star, a former pro and a veteran coach of more than a decade. Justin’s journey from modest root in West Virginia to his position of greatness now in Tennessee, His journey is a tale of passion, grit and an eternal love for the game. Together, though, the Caldwells are rewriting the script on what it means to be a coaching power couple.

What is Justin Caldwells’ Family Background?

Justin Caldwell was raised in Mullens, West Virginia, a small town with a storied basketball legacy. He grew up in a small town where sports was an integral part of life and quickly fell in love with the game. Justin was born into a large family, many of whom played sports, and he grew up with stars in his eyes, immersed in basketball culture. You could see the passion and dedication he had, and he put so many hours into trying to become a more complete player on the floor.

Justin’s personal life is also intertwined with basketball, beyond his own sport. He is married to Kim Caldwell, the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers women’s basketball team. For both, their shared love of basketball has defined their respective careers and personal lives. In January 2025, they welcomed their first son, Conor Scott Caldwell. The middle name is Scott, named after Kim’s late father, Scott Stephens.

How did Kim Caldwell and Justin Caldwell meet?

Kim and Justin met when they were student-athletes at Glenville State, where he played on the men’s basketball team and Kim on the women’s team. There was chemistry from the beginning, which has only deepened over time through their experiences together, on and off the court.

There were late-night practices, draining road trips and postgame reflections — all became the bedrock of their relationship. He knew, and she knew that he knew; they both recognized each other’s hardships, desires and sacrifices; it just brought them together. “Every win, every loss, every ups, every downs… we worked so hard together… we were chasing our dreams together, we spent so much time together,” Kim once said. 

The rest is history, and the long march leading to their marriage in May 2023. Kim would take over as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols a few months later. Meanwhile, Justin was learning the ropes of teaching the next generation of athletes. They show you that a partnership is more than just romance.

What is Justin Caldwells’ background and career?

Justin Caldwell played at the highest levels of basketball in his youth and college. A standout player, he scored 1,997 points during his four years in college, three seasons at West Virginia Wesleyan and one at Glenville State. He put together a senior season as one of the nation’s elite scorers, averaging 23.7 points a game.

Upon graduating, Justin took his talents overseas, playing two professional seasons in Luxembourg for the BBC Bascharage Hedgehogs. He played in an international environment which is where he could hone his skills. But more than playing, it was about teaching, mentoring — his love was not just for basketball. That epiphany led him to coaching, where he has become a familiar figure.

He began his coaching career at Glenville State as an assistant before being promoted to head coach in 2018. In his final year with the program, he guided the team to a 17-win season. On the field, he earned the title of a player developer, where five of his players received All-Conference honors.

In 2023, Justin signed on as an assistant coach at Marshall University, where Kim was coaching the women’s team. They kept bumping into each other, bonded by their shared passion for the game. Justin would soon take on another challenge, becoming the player development coordinator for the Tennessee men’s basketball program in September 2024. His is a critical role in guiding the team’s future, in helping young players fulfil their potential.

How is Justin and Kim’s Life as a Couple?

Kim and Justin Caldwell intertwine love, basketball and support in their life together. They both have invested a lot in their coaching careers — but they are family, and that is never lost on either of them. They find time for each other despite their demanding jobs.

Kim has often cited Justin as her unwavering supporter from both personal and professional sides. When she was hired as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, she acknowledged him with this sentiment: “To my husband Justin, thank you for being my hype man and then humbling me when I need it.” Theirs is a relationship of encouragement, understanding and shared intent to do well.

What sets them apart is their ability to navigate life as a couple in the hyper-competitive world of collegiate athletics. They understand the demands of coaching, which only increases the bond between them. Their reverence for the game extends beyond their own careers — it’s a common love that they both have, which makes their collaboration so special.

What is Justin’s role in their family?

Justin Caldwell has a lot of titles — one of the most critical being off the basketball court. As a husband and father, he vows to provide support, love and stability. When they welcomed their son, Conor Scott Caldwell, and a new chapter in their life began. Then, parenthood arrived, adding a new layer to their partnership.

Justin’s busy and works hard, but he’s there for Kim and Conor. His commitment as a husband and father reflects what he brings to coaching, as he is a dedicated family man as well. Be it cheering Kim on from the sidelines or simply spending time with their son, he treats the role with gravity.

In addition, he uses basketball to build and guide the youth on and off the court. Leading, motivating and inspiring are hallmarks of his character. He is so devoted to his family that he is a walking reminder that success is more than wins and losses as he attempts to further his career as a player development or Skills coach: that it is how you build a legacy for your family as well.

What is Justin’s Ethnicity?

Justin Caldwell’s ethnicity is not publicly known but, being an American in Mullens, West Virginia and having the title Caldwell, he is most likely of European descent. This is the reason why West Virginia is predominantly Caucasian and most of those families in this area have a rich history of European ancestry.

While ethnicity is just one part of a person’s identity, what defines Justin is his love of basketball, his desire to coach and his commitment to family. It is not a story of where he came from, but of where he is going — and the difference that he can still make in the basketball community today.

What’s in store for this power couple? It’ll be exciting to see how the Tennessee basketball and the legacy of Kim and Justin Caldwell will continue to construct. Because when two hearts pursue the same vision, anything is possible.