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Kim Mulkey: Turning Crosses into Crowns
Kim Mulkey: Turning Crosses into Crowns
Written by: Karen B. Gibbs
When it comes to dynamic leaders, it’s hard to beat Kim Mulkey, the energetic, flashy-dressing, highly talented Hall of Fame coach who led LSU women’s basketball team to their first-ever NCAA championship this year. This victory was the fulfillment of a prophetic declaration Mulkey made two years earlier when she signed on as head coach at LSU. “I see five Final Four banners,” she said, pointing toward them. “But nowhere does it say National Champions. That’s what I came to do.”
Swagger? Bravado? No—just fact.
As the only man or woman to win an NCAA Championship as a player (LA Tech,’82), an assistant coach (LA Tech, ‘88), and as head coach, (three times at Baylor, 2005, 2012, 2019 and once at LSU, 2023), Mulkey’s prophecy was born of confidence and transformative experiences that began in her childhood and continue throughout her life.
Childhood challenges
Tickfaw native Mulkey attended elementary school during the early days of integration. Rather than enroll her in a private school as many parents were doing, Mulkey’s parents stood firm and sent their daughter to public school. Their decision proved to be life-changing for a young Mulkey. “I couldn’t believe people were leaving schools and going to other places because of change—and that change basically was race. I couldn’t wrap my little eight-year-old brain around that.
“Each year, I was bussed to a different school based on what grade you were in. Those were some of the greatest years of my life, and I have wonderful memories. I loved to compete and was always playing with the boys: marbles, tops, ball. And I was good. At recess and during PE classes, I was the one the boys picked first to be on their team. My parents made the right decision to keep me in public school. It was such a powerful thing—it made me who I am,” she said.
Four years later, Mulkey’s competitive relationship with the boys and her well-honed athletic skills set the stage for her next life lesson. “There was no biddy ball for girls, so when I saw a flier for tryouts for Dixie Youth Baseball, an all-boy league, I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I knew all the guys and had played with them at school,” she said.
Not surprisingly, Mulkey was the first one selected in the draft. “I played shortstop, pitcher and catcher and made the all-star team. That was a great experience until we were in Ponchatoula playing in the all-star tournament and I was told I couldn’t play or sit in the dugout because I was a girl,” she said. “You talk about a grown-up moment and a grown-up decision that had to come from me as a 12 year old. That was impactful.”
Mulkey’s dad explained that if she played in the game, it would be considered a forfeit. He asked what she wanted to do. “I said, I’m not going to punish my teammates. So I stood outside the dugout and watched the game. Instead of thinking of myself, I saw the bigger picture. I wasn’t going to cause my teammates to lose the chance to win a baseball game,” she said. “You never want it to be about yourself, in this case, about me being a girl. Although I knew the decision they were making was discriminatory, I felt like I made the right decision at that moment.”
Pausing to reflect on her words, Mulkey said “when you think back on life, you realize that, to a degree, you are born with certain traits. But I really think life experiences like these influence you, make you who you are.“
Turning Crosses into Crowns
Divorce
Another watershed moment was Mulkey’s divorce in 2006. Flying high from her first NCAA championship as Baylor’s head coach just a year earlier, Mulkey felt that life was good. She had two remarkable children, Makenzie and Kramer, and a wildly successful career. When then-husband, Randy Robertson, asked for a divorce, Mulkey was blindsided.
“I offered to quit my job to save my marriage,” she said. “I am a product of divorce. I saw what it did to me as a grown kid and I didn’t want to do that to my kids. You hurt more when children are involved. But you can’t make somebody stay married to you if they don’t want to be. So, you work very hard to help your children learn how to deal with it.”
And deal with it they did. Rather than being demoralized by divorce, Mulkey made it work as a single mom. Being there when her kids played games, putting family first, she prioritized, found help and support, and did what she does best—she got the job done.
The loss of a grandchild
As a woman who is totally dedicated to her family, the most devastating event in Mulkey’s adult life was the death of her first grandchild, Scout Marie. She was diagnosed early in her development with Turner syndrome, a chromosomal problem that affects girls and is fatal in 98% of cases. “When Scout Marie was diagnosed, I cried myself to sleep every night wondering what I could do,” she said.
A coach prides herself in being in control, but despite her money and resources, Mulkey knew she was powerless. “I had to come to the realization that God’s running this show. My daughter Makenzie and her husband were the strongest people. They helped me more than I helped them. They would just smile and believe whatever will be will be,” she said.
The fateful day when doctors no longer heard Scout Marie’s heartbeat was an extraordinarily difficult one. “We were sent to the hospital where Makenzie went through a 14-hour labor. If you’ve never held a dead child in your arms, I can’t even describe it to you. Even at that age, 19 or 20 weeks, Scout Marie had little toenails, a little nose—she was like a little Barbie doll.”
To honor Scout Marie’s memory, Mulkey, with the support of friends and LSU players, raises money for Turner syndrome awareness and research through the “Playing for a Purpose” campaign.
Qualities of a great leader
The ability to turn life’s crosses into crowns is integral to Mulkey’s persona, but it is only one of the many character traits that she feels a great coach—a strong leader—should possess. Mulkey lists other leadership qualities, including:
Have an honest and real presence about you when you stand before people. People can see through fake.
Know that what you say is factual and not BS. When I’m in a locker room, for instance, I better come in there and know my stuff, know what I’m trying to relay to them. If you don’t, people will know quickly.
Follow the leaders that fit your personality. Take things you’ve heard from other leaders you admire and fit it into who you are.
Always think of the team—and others—first. If the team performs well, you’re going to be taken care of. I honestly get embarrassed when people read my resume to introduce me. I just want them to say, “This is Mulkey. She’s won a few championships.”
Always be prepared. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. I tell that to the team and to my own children. Everyone on your team has to know what you’re working on, why you’re working on it, and why it’s important.
Know what you want and go for it. I wanted to graduate as valedictorian from Hammond High. I was in the top 10, but I was surrounded by geniuses. Those guys were always smarter than me. They made better scores on their standardized tests. But I ended up graduating as the valedictorian. I think I just outworked them.
Delegate, but not early in your career. First, show them how you want things done then, after they learn, let them do it. To have longevity in your profession, you have to trust people will do things exactly the way you want them done. In coaching, I can’t do at 61 what I could do at 40. It makes me proud that they’re doing things and I didn’t have to ask them.
You can work and be a mother, too, but you must always put your family first— and remember to take “me” time. I breastfed two kids while I was assistant coach. You can do it but you have people who support you and you can count on to help.
Let losses go or they’ll eat on you. Pick yourself up when you fall and keep on keeping on. Your past doesn’t define you unless you continue down that path. Own your mistakes, and you’ll get second chances.
Blessings come from putting yourself in a position to be blessed. Build the ark and you’ll survive life’s storms.
To join Coach Mulkey in fighting Turner syndrome, visit TurnerSyndrome.org.
