Kim Mulkey, LSU hire Seimone Augustus to women's basketball staff

Kim Mulkey has added a familiar name to the LSU women’s basketball staff. Seimone Augustus has been hired as an assistant coach, LSU announced on Monday.

Augustus led LSU to three Final Four appearances from 2004-06, before having an excellent career in the WNBA.

Seimone Augustus was named the National Player of the Year twice during her days playing for the Tigers. After that, she became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft.

“It is an exciting day for the LSU Women’s Basketball program to bring Seimone Augustus back to join our staff,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said in a statement. “As a player at LSU, Seimone helped transform the program as the best player in the nation. She brought LSU to national prominence.

“She will be a tremendous member on our staff as someone with great experience who has excelled at every level of the game from high school in Baton Rouge to college to the WNBA to the Olympics. Her expertise in the game will benefit our team and allow our players the opportunity to learn from a Hall of Famer who has exhibited great class throughout her entire career.”

Augustus will fill the vacancy left after former assistant coach Johnny Derrick retired.

She was recently inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and is set to be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in the next six months.

Augustus added that she is thrilled to be back with the LSU program.

“Life always guides you to where you belong,” she said in a statement. “Thus, my path has led me home. Gracing me with an opportunity to further my coaching career within a program that I hold dearly. They say experience is the greatest teacher, I am truly excited about the knowledge and wisdom I will gain working alongside of legendary Coach Mulkey and reconnecting with my former coach, Coach Bob Starkey.

“A Fighting Tiger once more, I look forward to pouring into this generation of Lady Tigers. Once A Tiger, Always A Tiger. A new chapter begins. See you at the PMAC.”

In addition to leading LSU to three Final Fours, Augustus also led the Tigers to the Elite Eight as a freshman. She was named the National Freshman of the Year that season. Augustus also earned All-American honors all four of her seasons at LSU.