SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Tennessee wants to talk to Missouri State coach Kellie Harper about its head-coaching vacancy.

The Lady Vols are looking for a coach to replace Holly Warlick, who was fired last week after going 172-67 in seven seasons.

Tennessee is interested in speaking with Kellie Harper, who played for the Lady Vols from 1995 to '99, about its head-coaching job. AP Photo/Matthew Putney

Harper played at Tennessee from 1995 to '99 and is coming off a surprising run to the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA tournament with 11th-seeded Missouri State. The Lady Bears went 25-10 this season and lost to Stanford in a regional semifinal.

Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats confirmed Monday that Tennessee had notified him of the school's "interest in speaking with Coach Harper about their women's head-coaching position."

KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, first reported Moats' statement.

Harper is 118-79 in six seasons at Missouri State. She has coached at Western Carolina and NC State. She has an overall record of 285-208 in 15 seasons.