Notebook: Kim Mulkey, Angel Reese Changing the Culture at LSU
The culture is changing in Baton Rouge with the help of LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and superstar forward Angel Reese.
No longer just a “football school," the tide is turning. As the Mulkey era continues, this athletic department knows they have something special with their women’s basketball program, but Mulkey believes it could be a domino effect.
Mulkey detailed how she believes LSU can become a school that thrives in every aspect of athletics. From football to basketball to gymnastics, the Hall of Famer has an itch that it can all come together down south.
A Program With Promise
It won’t happen overnight, but Mulkey firmly believes a culture shift is occurring as we speak and it’s ready to explode sooner rather than later.
"This could get special here in the next three, four, five years," Mulkey said on Thursday. "I keep up with the other sports. You want everybody to do good. You're selfish and territorial about certain things in your program, let's make that clear, but if you can help somebody else out with their program, I'm all for it."
Brian Kelly led a turnaround in Year 1 with the football program that took the country by storm. Mulkey has worked her magic in years one and two with the women’s basketball program. Gymnastics has established themselves as one of the top dogs in their field. Baseball is a juggernaut. What’s next? Can it all come together where this athletic department moves as one? Mulkey believes so.
"I don't know that I am responsible for other programs demanding greatness from themselves, but I've been blessed to have people think that. I got to thinking, look at the softball team, look at what the volleyball team did this year, looking at what Brian Kelly did in his first year," Mulkey said.
The Angel Reese Effect
Reese came to Baton Rouge to find herself both on and off the floor. The air is different down south and Reese has harped on what makes it such a special place. A place where an athlete can embrace the culture and reap the benefits of being a Tiger.
"Honestly, being able to embrace who I am. Coach Mulkey and even all the coaching staff, they love who I am and they don't let me just not be who I am and just shy away from that,” Reese said of what LSU has done for her. “They knew what they were getting when I came here, and I just appreciate that. They keep it real here. I really love that. On and off the court I have been able to embrace myself. I think that's kind of how I've been able to get known or go viral for things because I have been able to be authentic.”
A player of Reese’s caliber paired with the resume' of Mulkey is a recipe for success on the recruitment trail. A program is built through recruiting and this program has hit the ground running in that realm with their No. 1 2023 recruiting class.
Leaving a Legacy, Developing New Trends
Mulkey walks in the room and it gets quiet. The air is different. A legend in the game, her presence alone changes things. With a coach as powerful as herself, others draw to her and take notes on how they can impact their respective sport as she has.
"I hope that someone can say, 'I'm trying to keep up with her. When I see that woman and her practices, I want to do what she does.' I think that's a sign of hard work, respect, and when you can have an entire athletic department win, man it's fun. I want to see that for everybody," Mulkey said.
The culture is changing during the “Mulkey Era”, and with the help of Reese on the floor, the sky’s the limit for this program. As other sports continue breaking barriers, LSU has the chance to become something special sooner rather than later.
