Former Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper is returning to the SEC.
Harper will be taking over the Missouri basketball program, the school announced Tuesday.
Harper, a former 3x champion under Pat Summitt from 1995-1999, led the Lady Vols program for five seasons from 2019 to 2024 with four NCAA Tournament appearances. After being fired following the 2023-2024 season, Harper spent the year as an analyst on the SEC Network set. Harper frequently broke down games and storylines from the SEC before, during, and after games this season.
“I am incredibly honored to be the next head coach at Mizzou,” Harper said in a statement. “Missouri is a special place, and I know firsthand the passion and pride that surrounds this program. 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. The foundation is in place for success — and I can’t wait to get started.”
Welcome home, @KellieHarper!
» https://t.co/ANhfmtUkIZ pic.twitter.com/LCP08u1JK6
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) March 18, 2025
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Harper will take over for longtime head coach Robin Pingeton, who resigned after 15 years at the end of Missouri’s season. The former Tennessee head coach was rumored to be a potential candidate at a few jobs this cycle but will end up returning to the state of Missouri to lead the Tigers’ program.
Prior to her time at Tennessee, Harper was the head coach at Missouri State and went 118-79 in six seasons with the Bears. Harper reached the NCAA tournament twice with Missouri State.
Tennessee hired Harper from Missouri State on April 8, 2019, to take over for Holly Warlick. In five seasons on Rocky Top, Harper went 108-52 in 160 games with four straight tournament appearances from 2021 to 2024. The Lady Vols reached the Sweet 16 twice under Harper’s watch but couldn’t get to the elusive Elite Eight.
The Lady Vols, under the command of Kim Caldwell in her first season at the wheel, defeated Missouri in Columbia this past season by a score of 76-71. Tennessee’s win over the Tigers broke a three-game losing streak and set up a win over No. 5 UConn in the following game.
Proven recruiter
We 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
