Nearly two weeks have passed since former LSU women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman announced her resignation, a move that sent the entire program into a frenzy just days before the Lady Tigers were scheduled to begin the NCAA Tournament. The Athletic Department’s attention has now shifted to replacing Chatman, who was 90-14 in her three years as coach at LSU. Veteran assistant coach Bob Starkey will fill Chatman’s position for the rest of the NCAA Tournament, where the Lady Tigers have advanced to the Final Four three-straight seasons and are currently in the Sweet 16. Starkey, however, said he has no interest in becoming LSU’s full-time coach after this season. “I’m an assistant coach,” Starkey said. “That’s what I enjoy. The stature of the program deserves an experienced head coach.” With Starkey out of the long-term equation, some attention has been shifted to current Baylor women’s basketball coach and Hammond native Kim Mulkey. Mulkey has been to the Final Four 12 times as either a player or coach, winning the National Championship twice each as a player and a coach. Mulkey said following one of Baylor’s Big 12 Tournament games that she is not interested in returning to her home state. “I just don’t even think making a comment about any of the job openings is appropriate,” Mulkey said. “Baylor treats me great. We are a top-25 team. I get paid great at Baylor. [LSU] is nothing more than another job that is open.” Financial problems would also be an issue for LSU to get Mulkey. Baylor extended Mulkey’s contract in April 2005, and although financial details of the deal were not disclosed, she is expected to be receiving more than the $400,000 per year Chatman was making at LSU. LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman said the Athletic Department will not formally begin interviewing candidates until the Lady Tigers’ season ends, but he expects the new coach will make about the same amount as Chatman. One candidate who may be interested is former University of Mississippi and WNBA Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor. Chancellor posted a 439-154 record in his 19 seasons at Ole Miss, making the NCAA Tournament 14 times. While with the Comets, Chancellor led the team to the first four WNBA Championships of the league’s history. While Chancellor did not directly say he was interested in LSU, he said coaching the Lady Tigers will be an intriguing job because of the talent on the team’s roster. “I will not get into specifics, but they have a dominant roster,” Chancellor said. “Next year with nine seniors, they will be a veteran team capable of taking on anyone in the country.” Bertman is expected to receive help from Senior Associate Athletic Director Judy Southard. Southard is the Chairman of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, so she expects to factor heavily in persuading whomever LSU chooses to fill. Southard said open positions at major schools like the universities of Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Michigan may be a handicap to LSU’s chances of landing the best coach on the market, but the timing of Chatman’s resignation plays into the Lady Tigers’ favor. “The faster we move, the better off it’s going to be,” she said. “This is the best time to be facing this situation because many teams’ seasons are ending, and candidates are becoming available.” If LSU decides to hire within the current staff, assistant coach Carla Berry may be considered, but with Berry’s role in the resignation of Chatman it is uncertain if the Athletic Department will wish to retain anyone from the current staff. For the time being, LSU is being coached by Starkey as LSU prepares for the Lady Tigers’ Sweet 16 matchup against Florida State University. Starkey is now the second interim coach to take the Lady Tigers through the NCAA Tournament in the last four seasons, as Chatman filled in for an ill Sue Gunter before formally becoming head coach in 2004. Starkey said LSU has played well because the players have been able to deal with adversity throughout their careers. “We have some great kids who have been through a lot and have handled a lot,” he said. “They have been around for the illness and the passing of Coach Gunter, and they’ve been through Hurricane Katrina.”
—–Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]