Kellie Harper has been hired as the next women’s basketball coach at the University of Missouri, the school announced Tuesday.
Harper most recently served as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, where she ran the Lady Vols program from 2019-2024. During her time in Knoxville, she amassed a 198-52 record and had the third-best SEC winning percentage behind only LSU’s Kim Mulkey and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley. Nevertheless, Harper was let go after last season and sat out all of the 2024-25 campaign.
The 47-year-old Harper is both a veteran of coaching and familiar with the state she will now coach in. Before taking the Tennessee job, Harper was the head coach at Missouri State from 2013-19, leading the Lady Bears to two NCAA Tournament appearances — one of which included a trip to the Sweet 16.
She has also coached at NC State (2009-13) and Western Carolina (2004-09).
“Kellie is a proven winner and dynamic leader who understands the ‘Will to Win’ necessary to succeed at the sport’s highest level,” Missouri AD Laird Veatch said in a statement. “She is nationally respected, and her experience in the SEC, her deep ties to the state of Missouri and her ability to recruit and develop championship-level players make her the ideal leader for our program.”
✅Proven recruiter
✅Proven champion
✅Proven winnerWe are thrilled to announce Kellie Harper as the new leader of @MizzouWBB!
🔗https://t.co/lds6w9WP8a#MIZ 🐯 // #WillToWin pic.twitter.com/7GkRf2Nl3g
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) March 18, 2025
In 20 seasons as a Division I head coach, Harper has a 393-260 record and nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
“Missouri is a special place, and I know firsthand the passion and pride that surrounds this program,” Harper said in a statement. “Our family is excited to return to the state of Missouri. I look forward to working with our leadership and our student-athletes, building strong relationships throughout the community and winning championships in Columbia.”
Harper takes over for Robin Pingeton, who had coached the Tigers since 2010. Missouri made four NCAA Tournament appearances under Pingeton but none since 2019. The Tigers haven’t been ranked since the 2019-20 season.
Missouri finished 14-18 this season and has only two winning seasons in the last six years. Pingeton announced her resignation in late February as the Tigers were heading toward a sixth consecutive losing season in the SEC. — Ben Pickman
What does Harper’s hiring mean for the Tigers?
Harper returns to the SEC after a year away, so her conference knowledge should be a boost. Harper is well-acquainted with most of the SEC’s coaches and teams, except for the programs that have turned over since she was fired from Tennessee last season (Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky) and the league’s new additions (Texas and Oklahoma). Plus, with her time spent in the analyst booth for the SEC Network during the past season, she has had plenty of time to break down these (now future) opponents and study their systems.
Her roots within Missouri — having spent six seasons at Missouri State before her five-year stint at Tennessee — should also give her a leg up in recruiting the Tigers’ backyard. Missouri isn’t known for producing an overwhelming amount of top-tier talent, but it’ll be a priority for Harper to keep that homegrown talent in the state. Since 2021, the state of Missouri has produced six top-100 players, only two of whom played for the Tigers. — Chantel Jennings
(Photo: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)
