Kim Mulkey hired as LSU basketball’s new head coach

Baylor basketball legend Kim Mulkey is leaving the Lady Bears to return to Louisiana, taking over as the head coach of LSU women’s basketball.

The end of an era for Baylor women’s basketball means a bright new future for LSU.

Kim Mulkey, who led the Lady Bears to three national championships, was announced as LSU’s new head coach on Sunday.

“Kim Mulkey is a champion and a Hall of Famer, and we are thrilled to welcome her home,” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said in a press release. “Her accomplishments are unprecedented, her passion is unrivaled, and her commitment to winning in all aspects of life – in the classroom, on the court, and in the community – is unparalleled. We look forward to working with her as she instills that championship culture at LSU.”

This is a major statement of intent for the Tigers, who haven’t made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2014.

Hiring Kim Mulkey means LSU is pursuing championships again

Mulkey took over as Baylor’s head coach in 2000 and spent the past two decades building the program into one of the nation’s best. She won her first national championship in 2005, reaching that height again in 2019 and 2019. The Lady Bears won the Big 12 championship 11 years in a row through the 2021 season.

Why leave such a successful program? Mulkey is coming home. She was born in Louisiana and won a national title in 1988 at Louisiana Tech. Her son played for LSU baseball.

LSU parted ways with head coach Nikki Fargas after the Tigers went 9-13 in 2021. Her 10-year tenure started brightly enough, but results trailed off as the team missed the tournament in 2019 and 2019. Whatever rebound Fargas enjoyed in 2020 was left unfulfilled with the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament because of COVID-19.

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