Building a Legacy: Kim Mulkey and LSU’s Ascendancy
SPOKANE, Wash. — The morning after LSU’s dominant victory over Hawaii in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Tigers gathered at their home court, ready to gear up for the next challenge. The stakes were high: a win against Michigan would not only advance LSU to the Sweet 16 but also mark a significant milestone for coach Kim Mulkey, who was in her second season with the program. Although the signs of a program revival were evident, securing a win over Michigan was critical.
Mulkey, a seasoned coach, stood at the sidelines, observing her players as they filed into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC). However, something felt amiss, and it troubled her. She overheard a couple of players discussing their sore legs and fatigue, which was concerning given the limited time they had to prepare for the Wolverines. With only a day at her disposal, Mulkey understood that she could not afford to let her players relax or underestimate Michigan.
Determined to ignite a spark within her team while still allowing them some recovery time, Mulkey devised a strategy. As LSU commenced their practice walkthroughs, she grew increasingly frustrated with the apparent lack of energy and focus displayed by her players. In a bold move, she called off practice entirely, sending the team home with a clear message: they needed to step up their game.
With just 30 hours remaining until the crucial matchup against Michigan, the players returned the following morning for a pregame walkthrough. However, Mulkey still sensed a lack of intensity, prompting her to brainstorm another motivational tactic. She whispered to associate head coach Bob Starkey, “Let’s review Michigan’s inbounds plays, and then I think I’ll throw them out again to gauge their readiness.” Starkey, still adjusting to Mulkey’s provocative coaching style, nodded in agreement.
As the team neared the end of the inbounds review and transitioned into a new drill, a player made an error, providing Mulkey with the opening she sought. She strode onto the court, her voice ringing out: “You’re still not with me. You’re still not here. Get out!” Yet, rather than exiting, the players stood their ground. Alexis Morris and Angel Reese led the charge, rallying their teammates to stay put. Mulkey glanced at her coaching staff, then conceded, “Fine. Then we’ll leave.”
Some assistants expressed concern, but Mulkey remained resolute. As the coaches gathered their belongings and headed toward the exit, the players remained on the court, bewildered. With a challenging game looming ahead, their routine was in disarray for the second consecutive day. However, Mulkey had a plan.
“As a freshman, your mind is racing, like, ‘Is she really going to walk out?’” Sa’Myah Smith recalled. “What are we doing? We’re going into the second round. We need you right now. But it helped us. We needed that.” As the coaches departed, Morris and Reese took charge, leading LSU through a traditional pregame walkthrough. From the coaches’ offices, equipped with a live feed of the court, Mulkey and Starkey watched in satisfaction as the team executed a flawless walkthrough.
“We’re ready,” Mulkey assured Starkey with a smile.
That night, LSU triumphed over Michigan by a margin of 24 points, and just two weeks later, they claimed the national championship, achieving a stunning victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
With four national championships under her belt, Mulkey has established herself as a Hall of Fame coach and a prominent figure in college basketball, becoming the first women’s coach to secure national titles at two different programs. While her coaching methods and persona can be polarizing, her success is undeniable.
Colleagues and players who have experienced Mulkey’s coaching over her 24-year tenure often suggest that her achievements stem not only from her recruiting prowess (which now includes adeptness in navigating the transfer portal) and strategic acumen but also from her unparalleled ability to connect with her teams. She has won an astonishing 86 percent of her games and collected four national championships. Yet, it is her understanding of her players’ needs — knowing when to deliver tough love, when to push them, and when to support them — that truly sets her apart.
In an age where players hold significant leverage through the transfer portal, NIL deals, and shifting coach-player dynamics, Mulkey has thrived by staying true to her approach, defying the pressure to adapt that many coaches feel.
Reflecting on that tense moment with the 2023 team, Starkey noted, “It’s only a gamble if you don’t know your team. And she did. … She understood the character of that team and had a feel for how they would respond.”
Mulkey’s influence is also evident in the current LSU squad, which is set to face second-seeded NC State in the Sweet 16 on Friday evening in Spokane. Following the departure of standout rebounder Angel Reese, the Tigers have regrouped with a new array of transfers, aiming for a surprising run to the Final Four. To achieve this, they must navigate the challenge posed by NC State, a team that reached the Final Four last season, and potentially face UCLA, the tournament’s top seed.
Yet, in true Mulkey fashion, the team embraces the challenge ahead. “She quickly gauges what a team can handle and what version of herself they can manage,” said LSU assistant coach Daphne Mitchell, who spent six years working alongside Mulkey at Baylor. “She has an instinctive sense of when to intensify her approach, thinking, ‘I need to turn up the heat. They can take more than I’m giving them.’”
Despite her polarizing reputation, Mulkey is fiercely defended by her players. Morris, who had previously been dismissed from Mulkey’s Baylor team, chose to return and play for her at LSU. Reflecting on her decision, Morris stated, “During my journey of self-discovery, I realized that the structure, discipline, and organization she provided were exactly what I needed.”
When Reese transferred from Maryland, she explicitly sought the tough-love coaching that Mulkey embodies. She wanted a coach who would hold her accountable and ensure she never took a play or drill for granted. “I knew what it would be like coming here,” Reese explained. “I told her, ‘I don’t want you to make me feel like the best player; I want you to make me feel like I’m at the bottom.’”
Players appreciate this kind of coaching from Mulkey, often seeking her out for her direct and honest approach. “Kim is the best in the locker room I’ve ever seen,” said former director of women’s basketball operations Johnny Derrick, who collaborated with Mulkey from 2000 to 2024. “Her ability to know when to push a kid, when to show them affection, and when they need a break is remarkable.”
In a landscape marked by high player mobility, where many coaches privately lament the need to tread lightly to keep players satisfied and out of the transfer portal, Mulkey seems to operate in a realm unencumbered by such constraints. Notably, LSU has successfully harnessed the transfer portal while experiencing significantly less player attrition compared to many other programs. Over the past three seasons, they have lost only a handful of prominent players to the portal, with only one (Hailey Van Lith) being a regular starter.
Many attribute this stability to the clear expectations that come with playing for Mulkey. While she may be intense and straightforward, her players are never surprised by her approach. “Whether you like it or not, she’s going to speak her mind. She stands by her beliefs — that’s the most authentic part of her,” junior Flau’jae Johnson remarked. “She keeps it real, and people appreciate that. Even if they might hate it in the moment and think, ‘I’m going to leave,’ they always come back because she’s genuine.”
Senior Aneesah Morrow recalled how Mulkey didn’t mince words when she was removed from the starting lineup last season for not meeting the expected standards. Mulkey made it clear that if Morrow wanted to return, she needed to elevate her performance. “I was humbled because I realized I wasn’t performing at my best,” Morrow acknowledged. “But she has high expectations for me, and she knows what I can achieve. That’s why I tell her every time I step on the court, ‘I’ve got you. You’ve got my back, and I’ve got yours.’”
Mulkey’s fierce competitiveness and unwavering commitment to pushing her players to excel are deeply rooted in her own athletic journey. At just 12 years old, she became the first girl to play on a Little League team, only to be barred from participating in an All-Star game due to gender restrictions. She later became the first girl in Louisiana to score 4,000 points in high school and achieved four state titles before going on to earn two national titles at Louisiana Tech in the early 1980s. Her experience competing under the formidable Pat Summitt during the 1984 Olympics, along with their enduring friendship, has profoundly influenced Mulkey’s coaching philosophy.
“Being a player and understanding what motivated me at this time of year, knowing how to challenge and nurture young athletes, it could just be who I am,” Mulkey reflected. “Perhaps I have a good intuition for the game.”
Whatever the source of her insight, those around Mulkey agree that her unique style only works for her. Her vibrant personality, characterized by flashy outfits and animated sideline antics, is a consistent and integral part of her coaching identity. Players who choose to join the LSU program enter knowing that they will not experience a nurturing environment devoid of intensity; they are expected to embrace the challenge.
While her fiery temperament is well-known, those close to her also highlight her more tender moments — her nurturing demeanor towards players, the annual ice cream field trip that replaces a practice during the conference season, and the way she proudly shares her garden with players when they visit her home.
Earlier this season, a broadcast captured a moment of Mulkey in a passionate outburst, slapping a clipboard out of the hands of Seimone Augustus, a first-year assistant coach and legendary former player for LSU. When asked about the incident, Augustus could only smile. “That’s just Mulkey,” she said. “To know her is to love her. Many people misinterpret her as a person. She has a heart of gold once you get to know her. But yes, she is emotional. You could compile a highlight reel of her fiery moments.”
Such moments are abundant because Mulkey remains steadfast in her intensity, both in public view and behind closed doors. Players, coaches, and Mulkey herself recognize this fact. “She’s incredibly honest and upfront. She doesn’t hide the reality that she will coach them hard and has high expectations,” Starkey noted. “She doesn’t sugarcoat anything during the recruiting process, and that’s crucial. I’ve observed many coaches attempting to present a false narrative, but that’s not Kim.”
— The Athletic’s Brody Miller contributed to this report.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos of Kim Mulkey: Brandon Sumrall, Jacob Kupferman, Eakin Howard, Beau Brune / Getty Images)
