Kim Mulkey Reflects on Her Return to Louisiana: “It Was About Coming Home”
In a candid conversation on the Get Gordon Podcast, Kim Mulkey, the outspoken and highly successful head coach of LSU women’s basketball, opened up about her coaching journey, including her return to Louisiana after two decades of dominance at Baylor.
“The opportunity to come back home,” Mulkey said, “that’s what it was about for me.”
“I wasn’t born in Louisiana. Six months were spent in California because my father was finishing up the Marine Corps… but all I’ve ever known is this state, until I moved to Baylor [in 2000]. So I went to Baylor for 21 years and I came back here. They asked me if this was a big adjustment. No, not at all. I felt like this is where I’ve been my whole life.”
Though born in California, Mulkey was raised in Tickfaw, Louisiana, a small town with a population under 1,000. She carved out her basketball legacy early at Louisiana Tech, where she was a gritty 5-foot-4 point guard. During her playing career, she won an AIAW national title, the first NCAA women’s basketball championship, and even brought home an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
Following her playing days, Mulkey stayed in the game, joining Leon Barmore’s coaching staff at Louisiana Tech. As Barmore led the Lady Techsters to nine Final Fours, Mulkey served as both assistant and associate coach. Still, a national title as a coach remained out of reach — until her move to Baylor in 2000.
Taking over a struggling program that had gone 7-20 the previous year, Mulkey flipped the script instantly, leading Baylor to a 21-win season and an NCAA Tournament berth in her debut. Her time at Baylor included three national titles, with the crown jewel being a perfect 40-0 season in 2012.
In April 2021, Mulkey returned to her home state to take the helm at LSU, and it didn’t take long to make her mark again — she led the Tigers to a national championship and revitalized the program with her trademark mix of elite recruiting and fiery passion.
Now at 62 years old, Mulkey boasts 754 career wins and shows no signs of slowing down. Her return to Louisiana isn’t just a homecoming — it’s a full-circle moment for a coach who has left an indelible mark on every stop in her storied career.
