How Kim Mulkey landed LSU legend Seimone Augustus on staff, why it's 'right time' for both

BATON ROUGE — As Kim Mulkey started assembling her first coaching staff with LSU women's basketball back in the spring of 2021, a phone call to Seimone Augustus was placed.

Even then, Mulkey believed Augustus had plenty to give back to her alma mater, a program she helped thrust into the national spotlight with three consecutive Final Four runs 20 years earlier and an institution and community that held her in the highest of esteem. But the former two-time national player of the year at LSU and four time WNBA champion knew she wasn't ready, nor the right fit — at the time.

"I know without a doubt that she needed a staff that was ready to go because expectations were extremely high. So I respectfully declined, not knowing if this would ever come back around," Augustus said during an introductory press conference Thursday.

"I'm a strong believer in what is for you will not pass you. What are the chances that (former LSU assistant) Johnny (Derrick) ended up retiring and the first thing the staff says is go get 'Money.' She made it a choice to come back and revisit. But she also told me if you don't accept this time I wasn't coming back a third. I'm definitely thankful that it did come back around and I was in the right space and time to accept."

Augustus, the Baton Rouge native, mulled things over as she and Mulkey discussed the role as an assistant coach she would fill, what would be expected of her and her day-to-day responsibilities over the course of "two to three" weeks when Mulkey reached back out.

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She felt coaching had continued to reveal itself to her — Augustus was an "observational" coach with the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA after she was retired in 2020 — and she believed her path was leading that way. This time, when Augustus picked up the phone to dial Mulkey after a couple of weeks deliberating, the LSU legend had a succinct message.

"I think I'm coming home coach," Augustus told Mulkey. "She said this is going to be a great opportunity for her to grow as a coach. It happened very quickly. She told I was going to get more experience here than anywhere else and it has been, I've only been here a few days and I'm right in it just like everyone else. I'm excited."

Mulkey explained that during Derrick's last season with the team last year, he worked with other assistants Kaylin Rice and Jordin Westbrook on his duties, like handling the scheduling, travel among other things, to "get them ready" for him walking away.

That movement among LSU's staff cleared the way for Augustus to assume an on-court coaching role, where she'll work heavily with the guards as well as the rest of the team with the intricacies of the WNBA and how to maximize potential opportunities at the pro level.

"We would not be doing this if Seimone could not be on the floor, sharing her knowledge and experiences not just in college but in the league," Mulkey said. "With the rules changing in our sport, where we can soon probably have six (coaches) on the floor and in August, (the NCAA) is voting again to allow the rest of the staff doing limited roles on the floor, it was great timing.

"That's what we spent a lot of time talking about is 'your role will not be what Johnny's role was.' I think that was really important to her."

For Mulkey, being able to bring Augustus into the fold of her staff provides all-around positive affect, from recruiting high school and transfer portal talent to LSU and Baton Rouge, to selling more tickets to games and beyond. Mulkey held a zoom call with her current players to inform them they were hiring Augustus and they uncharacteristically were quiet, the coach shared.

"I don't know if they were in awe. Some clapped, some smiled but it was quiet. Maybe they're waiting to see her in person. I can't wait for our players to be with her and around her every day," Mulkey said.

"Anyone who knows this games knows who Seimone Augustus is. Seimone deserves this. We deserve it. Our state, our sport deserves it. This is her school. This is where she grew up."

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It felt like the entire city of Baton Rouge was in attendance for Augustus' statue unveiling back in January of 2023. People packed the practice facility plaza where the LSU basketball statues reside with no room to breathe.

That crowd, Mulkey said, will now be in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center every night, cheering on Augustus and LSU once again.

As Augustus embarks on an "official beginning" into coaching, she couldn't be happier that it's happening at LSU, a place she loves dearly. Just as important, it's the right time.

"I'm trying to figure out my voice. If you know me, I don't talk loud, don't talk often. Who is 'Coach Money,'?" Augustus said. "I think this presents a great opportunity for me to do that alongside a legendary coach. I've seen the ways these great coaches and these great minds and how they're able to instruct these young ladies and help them accomplish their goals.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Kim Mulkey landed Seimone Augustus as assistant coach at LSU