Kim Mulkey returns to LSU after family death, Bob Starkey serving as acting head coach vs. Florida

As LSU got ready for the SEC tournament, it did so without its head coach. Kim Mulkey was away from the team due to an unexpected death in the family, ESPN’s Carolyn Peck said, and associate head coach Bob Starkey will be acting as the head coach for Friday’s game against Florida.

Mulkey arrived in Greenville Friday after spending time with her family, Peck said. She is on the bench with the Tigers for the game, but is farther down from the scorer’s table. Starkey, Peck said, will be the one coaching the team.

Starkey did much of the “leg work” getting LSU ready for the SEC tournament, according to The Bengal Tiger’s Matthew Brune. He was up in the first half working with the Tigers, though Mulkey was also seen giving instructions at times early. Otherwise, she was seen sitting on the bench with her team.

“Kim Mulkey got to Greenville today,” Peck said to open the SEC Network broadcast. “On Monday, she got the news of an unexpected death in her family. She has been away, taking care of her family. She told me that she’s going to be on the bench, but she’s probably not going to be the Kim Mulkey that we’re used to seeing because she’s still dealing with that.

“Bob Starkey will be acting as the head coach. He will be up coaching the team. Kim told me when she first got a head coaching job at Baylor, she told them, ‘If I had to choose between basketball and family, it’s going to be about family.’ So she’s been away, taking care of her family, going through this grief. It’s been Bob Starkey who has prepared this team for the SEC tournament.”

Starkey is in his second stint at LSU, serving as Mulkey’s associate head coach after previously working in Baton Rouge from 1989-2011. He was previously the Tigers’ acting head coach in 2007 as they made a run to the Final Four.

LSU entered the SEC Tournament as the No. 3 seed in the field, but is also planning to be without its top guard. Flau’jae Johnson is out for the tournament due to an injury is dealing with shin inflammation, which is why Mulkey ruled her out for the weekend. She was seen with a boot on her leg during Friday’s game against Florida. However, Johnson is expected to be back for the NCAA Tournament.