Kim Mulkey

Deep in the heart of Texas, sandwiched between the big cities of Dallas to the north and Houston to the south, Kim Mulkey built a national powerhouse at Baylor University. The Baylor Lady Bears dominated Big 12 conference play under Mulkey, winning the regular season conference title each year from 2011 to 2020. During that same span, Mulkey led her Lady Bears to the NCAA Final Four on two occasions. In 2012, her Bears finished the season 40-0 to capture the program’s second national championship. Seven years later, Baylor lost only one game all season to claim another national title, the third of Mulkey’s tenure. In 2023, in only her second season at Louisiana State, Mulkey led the Tigers to a national championship. The two-time Associated Press National Coach of the Year instills in her players the idea that basketball comes after family and academics. Now the fastest coach in history to win 600 games, that foundation has defined her basketball life. Mulkey, a decorated player as well, is the first coach in history to win a national championship as a player, an assistant, and a head coach.