Kim Mulkey Leaves Baylor for L.S.U.

“We are grateful for the more than two decades Kim Mulkey poured into building Baylor women’s basketball to one of the nation’s premier programs,” Baylor’s athletic director, Mack B. Rhoades IV, said.

In 2019, Mulkey took her championship team to the White House, the first women’s team honored in its own right by President Donald J. Trump.

“Would you like to work at the White House, by any chance?” Trump asked her. “No,” Mulkey replied. “We’ll take you,” he said. “We need the help.”

Mulkey’s success had earned her a $2.27 million a year contract at Baylor, and L.S.U. was reported to be exceeding that figure to lure her away. The L.S.U. men’s coach, Will Wade, makes $2.5 million.

“This is the one thing that I don’t ever see changing — because they will always use the analogy, ‘Well, women’s basketball doesn’t generate the revenue’ — salaries,” she said this year. “You’ve got women’s basketball coaches — and you can name them — while they’re well compensated in comparison to other women’s coaches, they have done more for the game of basketball than their male counterparts. But I bet those male counterparts make more money. That’s the thing that I’m not sure any time in my lifetime that you will ever see change.”

Mulkey again comes to a team in need of a turnaround. L.S.U. made five consecutive Final Fours from 2004 to 2008, but it has not returned since. In eight seasons under Nikki Fargas, the team made two appearances in the round of 16. In 2020-21, it was 9-13. Fargas resigned on Saturday.

Gillian R. Brassil contributed reporting.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/sports/ncaabasketball/kim-mulkey-lsu-baylor.html