.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
As Kim Mulkey prepares LSU Tigers women’s basketball for another NCAA Tournament run, the Hall of Fame coach is also navigating a staff change.
During Wednesday's edition of Off the Bench with Jacob Hester and Matt Flynn, Mulkey addressed assistant Gary Redus accepting the head coaching position at Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s basketball, and how she encouraged to get started immediately.
“I told him, ‘You can’t be married to two wives,’” Mulkey said. “Get out of here. Go to work. Get your program going, get your staff in place and take care of those kids.”
Redus joined Mulkey’s staff after previous stops at Delta State, Vanderbilt and SMU. Mulkey said his impact at LSU was immediate, particularly on the recruiting trail.
“That young man was just like an Energizer Bunny when it came to recruiting,” Mulkey said. “He worked with guards, did drills and helped build what we have here.”
More: Molly Miller makes her case as Arizona State
While the timing of coaching hires during the postseason can be awkward, Mulkey acknowledged it is simply part of the modern landscape of college athletics.
“I’m not used to all of this stuff happening during the season,” Mulkey said. “Until you have some parameters on when you can hire coaches, this is going to continue to happen because each institution is looking out for themselves.”
The departure also prompted Mulkey to joke about the growing success of assistants leaving Baton Rouge for head coaching opportunities.
“My last two recruiters got head jobs,” Mulkey said. “I told somebody the other day, ‘I feel like Nick Saban.’ I feel like I’m preparing all his coordinators, from Lane Kiffin to the guy at Texas.”
More: Why McNeese State’s viral manager is back after short stint at NC State
Mulkey made clear she views those opportunities as a compliment to the program LSU has built. “That’s respect,” Mulkey said. “That’s preparing the future of our game.”
Meanwhile, LSU’s focus now shifts back to the NCAA Tournament. The head coach said her message to the team this week will center on perspective and opportunity.
“This team will have the highest seed of any team I’ve had at LSU. That’s progress. That’s building the foundation…You just keep teaching and keep showing them the details, and then you tell them, why not us?”
English (US)