Missouri announces Robin Pingeton to step away as women's basketball coach after 2024-25 season

Missouri women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton will step away from the program following the 2024-25 season, the school announced Wednesday. Pingeton had been the coach of the Tigers for the past 15 seasons, compiling a 249-216 record in that span.

Pingeton directed Missouri to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2016-19. However, the Tigers have never been back since and have a 62-97 record across the past six seasons.

This year, they currently sit at 13-16 (2-12 SEC) with two games remaining on their regular season schedule.

“After a lot of reflection, I have decided it’s time for a new voice to lead Mizzou Women’s Basketball,” Pingeton said in the school’s release. “This is a decision I arrived at after initiating conversations with (athletic director) Laird Veatch, and I am incredibly grateful for his leadership and support throughout this process. I love Columbia, Mizzou and the amazing community that has supported my family and this program for so many years. This is the end of this chapter. I’m looking forward to the next one. 

“I love this 2024-25 Mizzou team and could not be prouder of the way these young ladies have competed and represented this university. I’ll always be grateful for my time at Mizzou and will close this chapter just as I opened it, with profound gratitude for the opportunity to lead this program. I know Laird will do amazing things for this athletics department moving forward.” 

Pingeton will leave Missouri as the second-winningest coach in program history. Prior to arriving in Columbia, she was also the coach at Illinois State (2003-10) and St. Ambrose (1992-2000), bringing her overall record to 584-373, which ranks 17th among active women’s college basketball coaches.

Pingeton took Illinois State to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances to bring the total for her career to six. Despite this, she has never advanced further than the second round.

It remains to be seen what is next for Pingeton’s career, if she will decide to coach again somewhere else or simply retire. For now, the focus will remain on finishing out this season strong with Senior Day on the horizon for Sunday against Vanderbilt.

Before then, the Tigers will travel to Fayetteville for a rivalry matchup against Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.