KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Orange has been a big part of Nikki Caldwell's adult life. Today, it's all about the color purple.

LSU introduced the former Lady Vol player and assistant coach as the team's new women's basketball coach.

Caldwell play under Pat Summitt from 1991-1994. She was also an assistant with the team from 2002-2006.

Monday afternoon, the University of Tennessee released the following statement from Summitt on Caldwell's hire at LSU:

“I am absolutely thrilled for Nikki,” said University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt. “It’s UCLA’s loss and LSU’s fantastic gain to get a brilliant, rising coach of Nikki Caldwell’s caliber. LSU is committed to its women’s basketball program both financially and with the resources they have in place to compete amongst the best teams in the nation.

“The Southeastern Conference will become much stronger with Nikki joining the league. Her accomplishments in the three short seasons she was at UCLA is indicative of more of what will come from Nikki and her staff at LSU.”