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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri is hiring former Tennessee coach Kellie Harper to lead its women’s basketball program.

Harper, 47, brings Southeastern Conference experience to the rebuilding program. MU announced her hire Tuesday afternoon.

“Kellie is a proven winner and dynamic leader who understands the ‘Will to Win’ necessary to succeed at the sport’s highest level,� athletics director Laird Veatch said in a statement. “She is nationally respected, and her experience in the SEC, her deep ties to the state of Missouri and her ability to recruit and develop championship-level players make her the ideal leader for our program. We are incredibly excited about the future of Mizzou Women’s Basketball under her leadership.�

She has 20 years of coaching experience, having entered the coaching ranks soon after concluding her playing career at Tennessee. Harper has been the head coach at Western Carolina, North Carolina State, Missouri State and with the Lady Vols. She has a career coaching record of 393–260.

She made the NCAA Tournament in four seasons at UT — it wasn’t held during 2020, her first season, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Lady Vols dismissed Harper after the 2023-2024 season, looking for someone who could do more than crack the field each season.

A coach who can consistently get teams into the NCAA Tournament would be a welcome figure at Mizzou, which hasn’t been to the women’s tournament since 2019, when Sophie Cunningham was a player.

“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.�

Harper’s salary and contract details were not immediately available Tuesday, but Veatch has pledged to increase the university’s investment in women’s basketball.

Harper will replace Robin Pingeton, whose contract expired after 15 years at Missouri.