After LSU beat Florida, Mulkey took an opportunity to stump for Starkey’s candidacy for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She’s pushed that message before, while crediting Starkey for assuming key responsibilities within her program since he joined her staff in 2022 — a lift that she’s said will extend her coaching career.

Kim Mulkey took a back seat on the bench during LSU's win over Florida due to a tragic family loss, and the coach wasted no time in returning to her old self against Texas

LSU coach Kim Mulkey allowed assistant Bob Starkey to coach Friday night's SEC tournament quarterfinal game against Florida while she continued to grieve an unexpected death in her family earlier this week.