Kim Mulkey misses postgame press conference, 'heartbroken' after Scott Woodward firing

Kim Mulkey was “heartbroken” over the news that Scott Woodward was out as LSU athletic director on Thursday. So much so that she missed the Tigers’ postgame press conference after Thursday’s exhibition win over Langston.

Instead, associate head coach Bob Starkey addressed the media in place of the Tigers’ head women’s basketball coach. Starkey gave his perspective on the major chance in the athletic department’s leadership.

“I think one of the things that get overshadowed,” Starkey said, via the Advocate. “That these are people and human beings that are going through these situations, and they have families, and it always, always gives us pause. If you’ve been in it long enough, you’ve gone through it yourself. I’ve had to go through it.”

Starkey has worked with Woodward at LSU and Texas A&M. Additionally, Woodward hired Mulkey as its women’s basketball coach in 2021. In Mulkey’s absence, Starkey vouched for his now former athletic director by saying he’s worked with two “phenomenal athletic directors” in his career with one of those being Woodward.

However, Woodward’s tenure with the Tigers came to an abrupt end on Thursday. This came following Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s message that Woodward would not be involved in choosing a successor to former head coach Brian Kelly, who was fired on Sunday night. Instead, the university’s board of supervisors will form a committee to find a new head coach.

In 2021, Woodward replaced head football coach Ed Orgeron with Kelly, signing him to a 10-year, $95 million deal. LSU owes Kelly over $53 million for his buyout. It’s the second-largest buyout in college football history, only trailing former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Fisher’s buyout was $76 million. Relatedly, Woodward was also responsible for hiring Fisher at Texas A&M in December 2017.

However, Woodward did hire the likes of Mulkey, baseball coach Jay Johnson and gymnastics coach Jay Clark. All three have since led their respective programs to national championships since they’ve been in Baton Rouge.

Woodward wrote a statement regarding his tenure. He reflected on the last six years as LSU’s athletic director.

“Others can recap or opine on my tenure and on my decisions over the last six years as Director of Athletics, but I will not,” Woodward wrote. “Rather, I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state’s residents and to the Baton Rouge community.

“I will cherish the incredible relationships I have built within the University community and beyond our campus borders. And I will fondly remember the national and SEC championships for the joy that they brought to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus community and our incredible fans.”