Being the coach of the LSU women's basketball team, Kim Mulkey has her fair share of duties, but we never thought there would be one in track and field! Mulkey recently traded the court for the track for a special LSU event.

LSU surprisingly chose Kim Mulkey as the honorary starter for the “Fastest Student on the Campus” race at the Alumni Gold track and field meet on April 25.

The event was a campus-wide competition and was open to non-athlete students. While it was a fun, light-hearted event, Mulkey took her role seriously, fully kitted as a track official, with a starting gun in hand, ready to commence the action.

While the 63-year-old has always been familiar with women’s basketball, she also felt at home at the starting line, having proven herself a multifaceted athlete.

Mulkey has organized boys' baseball for four years from a very early age. Volleyball, softball, and gymnastics are all sports she has excelled in earlier in life. Seven years of training in tap and ballet has also bonded her to the arts.

However, basketball remains her primary focus. Mulkey has been with LSU for five seasons, and her impact on the program has been significant.

In just her second season at LSU (2022-23), Mulkey led the team to a national championship, establishing high expectations for the program's future. But ever since the championship win three years ago, LSU has not been able to go past the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.

While they finished as a second-seeded team with a 29-6 win/loss record under their belt going into March Madness, they unfortunately crashed out in the Sweet 16 as the Duke Blue Devils stole the victory 85-87.

Mulkey would need all the help for a make-or-break sixth season with LSU, and she got that in the form of Murriel Page.

Kim Mulkey Announces the Hiring of Assistant Coach Murriel Page

Mulkey completed her coaching staff ahead of an important season at LSU after announcing the signing of assistant coach Murriel Page on Saturday.

"Murriel brings a tremendous wealth of experience to LSU and embodies professionalism in every sense," Mulkey said. "Our student-athletes will greatly benefit from her perspective as both a player and coach at the highest levels of the game."

Page brings eleven years of WNBA playing experience with her. As a player, the Washington Mystics drafted her as the No.3 overall pick in 1998.

"Her experience with the Canadian National Team adds an invaluable dimension, and she is highly respected on the recruiting trail. We're thrilled to welcome her to LSU."

Page began her coaching career at the age of 35 in 2010 at her alma mater, the University of Florida. Just a year earlier, in 2009, the university honored her as a “Gator Great”, inducting her into its Athletic Hall of Fame

Over the last six years, Page has coached around the States. Alongside Miami, she has also been part of Mississippi State and Georgia Tech, both of which advanced to the NCAA tournament during her time with them.

With an almost three-decade career as a player and a coach, do you think Page can help Mulkey reach the championship once again? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Surjo Roy