Missouri Hires Former Tennessee Star And Coach Kellie Harper As Its New Women's Basketball Coach

Kellie Harper has been hired as the new women's basketball coach at Missouri, where the former coach of SEC rival Tennessee will have the job of rebuilding a once-proud program that has not been to the NCAA Tournament in six years.

Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch announced Harper's hiring Tuesday.

Harper grew up in Sparta, Tennessee, and played under Pat Summitt with the Volunteers, helping them win three consecutive national championships. She began her coaching career in the SEC as an assistant at Auburn in 2000, and was the head coach for Western Carolina, NC State and Missouri State before replacing Holly Warlick at her alma mater in 2019.

Harper led the Lady Vols to the NCAA Tournament in each of the four seasons it was held, including back-to-back Sweet 16 trips in 2022 and '23. She was fired after last season, when Tennessee went 20-13 and made the second round of the NCAAs.

"Missouri is a special place, and I know firsthand the passion and pride that surrounds this program," Harper said. "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."