Carolyn Peck returning to broadcast career

NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt women’s basketball associate head coach Carolyn Peck is stepping away from coaching to return to her broadcasting career with ESPN, head coach Stephanie White announced today.
 
“We are so thankful for Carolyn’s contributions to our program and I am personally thankful for her mentorship as a player and coach,” White said. “We fully support Carolyn’s need to have time and flexibility in her schedule, as well as pursuing other professional opportunities. She is a Commodore for life and will always be a part of our family.”
 
Vanderbilt will announce Peck’s replacement at a later date.
 
Peck, a standout player for the Commodores from 1984-88, spent the last two seasons as associate head coach at Vanderbilt. Prior to her return to Nashville, Peck served as head coach at Purdue (1997-99), Florida (2002-07) and for the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle, for which she also served as the general manager. She also spent nine years as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
 
While at Purdue, Peck coached during White’s junior and senior seasons — and together, they led the Boilermakers to the 1999 NCAA National Championship. Peck won multiple National Coach of the Year awards that season, including the Naismith National Coach of the Year, USBWA Coach of the Year, WBCA Coach of the Year and AP College Basketball Coach of the Year.
 
During her playing career at Vanderbilt, Peck averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and capped her career No. 24 on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,240 points). She also ranks fifth in career blocked shots (180) and No. 10 in single-season blocks (57). She was inducted into Vanderbilt’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Peck is also a member of the Tennessee Hall of Fame.
 
Vanderbilt Associate Vice Chancellor and Deputy Athletics Director Candice Storey Lee praised Peck, both for her time as a student-athlete and her continuing service to the program and Commodore athletics.
 
“Carolyn Peck is Vanderbilt through and through. She authored a stellar career as a Commodore student-athlete before returning to Vanderbilt as part of a championship-winning career as a coach. We are grateful for Carolyn’s historic impact on West End and look forward to watching her once again represent Commodore Nation on ESPN,” Lee said.
 
Statement from Carolyn Peck
Two years ago, I was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was called upon to help my alma mater in a time of need and to also help one of my former star players, Stephanie White, manage an in-season transition from coaching in the WNBA to college. I gladly accepted an associate head coaching position knowing that it would be (and should be) temporary. I knew that while Stephanie needed me to help with the transition, she would soon need an assistant that she could mentor and mold the same way that Pat Summitt and Nell Fortner mentored and molded me.
 
At this time, I need some personal flexibility with my professional schedule. ESPN recently reached out with such an opportunity. Once again, I was blessed with the opportunity to help another institution that means a lot to me and to return to a larger platform to promote and grow women’s basketball.
 
The decision to go back to ESPN is not an easy one, but it’s the right one. It’s right because I can remain connected to my Vanderbilt family since I now live in Nashville. I will be able to get some personal affairs in order.  At the same time, I will have greater opportunities to mentor young coaches and players all across the world. Going back to ESPN also allows a deserving coach to step into my role on Stephanie’s staff and learn from a talented coach in the prime of her career.
 
I have enjoyed the last two years at Vanderbilt more than I ever expected. Being with my colleagues and an amazing group of young women has been a wonderfully profound growth experience. Please know that while I am leaving my position on the women’s basketball staff, I will never, ever leave my Vanderbilt family. #AnchorDown #VUforLife