LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey has faced criticism over the years for her stringent and sometimes controversial handling of players. Despite the critiques, one of her former players, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, expressed gratitude for the discipline she learned under Mulkey’s guidance.
Reese recently shared her thoughts on Mulkey’s coaching style in an interview, highlighting the positive impact it had on her career.
“She’s not going to let you not be confident. She’s going to break you down before she builds you back up. She’s going to coach you hard. She’s going to tell you the things that you need to work on. … I’m where I am right now because she coached me so hard,” Reese said, as reported by GeauxTigerHoops on Twitter/X.
📹 “She’s not going to let you not be confident… I am where I am right now because she coached me so hard.” – Angel Reese on Coach Mulkey 💜🏀🏆 #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/Wcs7YMQD7f
— GeauxTigerHoops (@GeauxTigerHoops) June 27, 2024
While some players have transferred from LSU due to Mulkey’s tough approach, Reese appreciates the rigorous coaching she received. This discipline, she believes, is instrumental in her development as a professional athlete.
Mulkey’s coaching style has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, a Washington Post article painted a less flattering picture of the LSU head coach, describing her as overly harsh and sometimes intolerant of her players’ sexual orientations. The article depicted Mulkey as a coach who could sometimes push her players too hard, to the point of being counterproductive.
Despite the mixed reviews of Mulkey’s methods, Reese’s experience suggests that Mulkey’s demanding style can yield significant benefits for some athletes. Reese’s acknowledgment of Mulkey’s influence on her career underscores the complex and often polarizing nature of coaching in high-stakes sports environments.
As Reese continues to make her mark in the WNBA, her reflections on Mulkey’s coaching provide valuable insight into the varied impacts of rigorous sports mentorship.