LSU celebrate 4x NCAA Champion Coach Kim Mulkey and her team on special day
Kim Mulkey and her coaching staff received special praise from the LSU Tigers on Sunday. To celebrate National Coaches Day, the Tigers appreciated Mulkey and her staff with a special post on the Tigers' official Instagram account for their women's basketball program.
The post consisted of three pictures, the first of which featured a solo picture of Mulkey donning a white top, pink jeans and a stunning jacket.
The next picture featured some key members from Mulkey's staff, including associate head coach Bob Starkey, assistant coaches Daphne Mitchell and Gary Redus II, Director of Women's Basketball Recruiting Kaylin Rice, Assistant Director for Operations/Recruiting Chante' Crutchfield and Assistant Director of Basketball Operations Joe Schwartz.
Kim Mulkey added one of LSU's all-time greats to her coaching staff this year
The final picture in the Tigers' post featured assistant coach Seimone Augustus, one of the biggest additions to Mulkey's staff ahead of the 2024-25 season. Augustus is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, alum of the Tigers' women's basketball program.
Augustus enjoyed a memorable college basketball career, during which she achieved several accolades. While she didn't win the NCAA championship, she swept the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, the Wooden Award, the Wade Trophy and the AP Player of the Year Award in 2005 and 2006.
She was the top overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft, with the Minnesota Lynx drafting her to their roster. She established herself as a franchise legend, becoming a four-time WNBA champion and an eight-time WNBA All-Star in 13 years. The Tigers retired the No. 33 jersey in Augustus' honor on January 26, 2010, while the Lynx did the same on May 29, 2022.
After retiring from the game following the 2020 season with the Los Angeles Sparks, Augustus joined them as an assistant coach from 2021-22. Her return to the Tigers as assistant coach is a strong statement of Mulkey's intent, who has enjoyed immense success in the last three seasons.
Kim Mulkey has transformed the Tigers into a title contender, leading them to their first ever national championship in the 2022-23 season. Although they failed to defend their title with an Elite Eight exit last season, Mulkey has the tools to succeed in the 2024-25 season.
With Augustus now a part of the coaching staff and a strong roster, Mulkey and the Tigers are among the early favorites to make a deep postseason run.