Former Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper named as a candidate for SEC head coaching job
Former Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper was named by On3 this week as a candidate for a soon-to-be open SEC head coaching job. Earlier this week, Missouri Tigers head coach Robin Pingeton announced that she'll be stepping down at the end of the season. Pingeton has been the head coach at Missouri since 2010. […]
Former Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper was named by On3 this week as a candidate for a soon-to-be open SEC head coaching job.
Earlier this week, Missouri Tigers head coach Robin Pingeton announced that she'll be stepping down at the end of the season.
Pingeton has been the head coach at Missouri since 2010.
"After a lot of reflection, I have decided it's time for a new voice to lead Mizzou Women's Basketball," said Pingeton in a statement. "This is a decision I arrived at after initiating conversations with (athletic director) Laird Veatch, and I am incredibly grateful for his leadership and support throughout this process. I love Columbia, Mizzou and the amazing community that has supported my family and this program for so many years. This is the end of this chapter. I'm looking forward to the next one."
On3 named Harper, who has served as a college basketball analyst for the SEC Network this season after being let go by Tennessee last year, as a potential candidate to replace Pingeton at Missouri.
From On3: Kellie Harper knows the SEC well, having played and coached at Tennessee for five seasons. While the Lady Vols parted ways with Harper at the end of last season, she has a track history of success at prior stops. Before her time at Tennessee, she led Missouri State for six seasons, taking them to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019 before being hired in Knoxville.
Harper has nine NCAA Tournament appearances under her belt and Missouri is looking for a coach who can take them dancing for the first time since 2019.
Harper led the Lady Vols to four straight NCAA appearances, including two trips to the Sweet 16, but Tennessee could never quite get over the hump during her five seasons in Knoxville.
The Tennessee native was part of three NCAA championship teams as a Lady Vol in the late 90s.
Harper is an accomplished coach who has proven that she can take a team to the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps she could excel in the SEC at a place that's not her alma mater (coaching at your alma mater is never easy).
Missouri hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019. They could certainly do a lot worse than Harper.
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