Carolyn Peck, a member of the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame, enters her third season on head coach Stephanie White’s staff in 2018-19. Peck, who was hired as a member of White’s inaugural staff, served as Vanderbilt’s interim head coach in the summer of 2016 while White was concluding the WNBA season.
Peck, an ESPN analyst for nine years, was the head coach at Purdue 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.
“I’m so excited to return to Vanderbilt with Stephanie White,” said Peck. “Nobody knows what a winner she is more than me. We won with her as a player and I have covered her coaching career especially in the WNBA. I couldn’t be prouder of what Stephanie has done and is going to do at Vanderbilt.
“Vanderbilt is a great school where a student-athlete can have the best of both worlds, academically and athletically. I’m proof of that,” Peck added. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“Carolyn is someone who can really hit the ground running,” said White upon Peck’s hiring. “I wanted to have someone in there with whom I could have frank, honest communication, that could carry out the vision of what we want to accomplish as a program on the court, in the classroom, in the community and from a recruiting standpoint. Carolyn knows me, how I operate and my expectation level; and we have a great relationship, so it’s a natural fit. I also knew that I wanted to have a Vanderbilt alum that is really engrained in the community and understands the core values of Vanderbilt University, so it’s a win, win.”
Peck coached at Purdue from 1997-99, and has also been a head coach at the University of Florida (2002-2007) and for the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle, where she also served as the general manager.
Peck was a standout for the Commodores from 1984-88 and ranks among Vanderbilt’s all-time leaders in multiple categories. She averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during her career, and ranks No. 24 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 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.
Peck, a native of Jefferson City, Tenn., was a Parade High School All-American.
Peck File
Associate Head Coach, Vanderbilt (2016-Present)
Head Coach, Florida (2002-07)
Head Coach, WNBA, Orlando Miracle (1999-2001)
Head Coach, Purdue (1997-99)
Assistant Coach, Purdue (1996-97)
Assistant Coach, Kentucky (1995-96)
Assistant Coach, Tennessee (1993-95)
Peck Quick Hits
Ranks 24th in career scoring at Vanderbilt
Member of Vanderbilt’s Athletic Hall of Fame
Purdue head coach for two seasons, winning the 1999 NCAA Championship
Named 1999 Coach of the Year by SBWA, USBWA, WBCA and AP
Served three seasons as head coach and general manager of the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle
Head coach at University of Florida for five years
Served as basketball analyst for ESPN for nine years