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Kim Mulkey named 2019 Naismith Hall of Fame candidate

By Carly Grenfell

STORRS, CONNECTICUT- NOVEMBER 17: Baylor Head coach Kim Mulkey reacts on the sideline during her sides loss during the UConn Huskies Vs Baylor Bears NCAA Women's Basketball game at Gampel Pavilion, on November 17th, 2016 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
STORRS, CONNECTICUT- NOVEMBER 17: Baylor Head coach Kim Mulkey reacts on the sideline during her sides loss during the UConn Huskies Vs Baylor Bears NCAA Women's Basketball game at Gampel Pavilion, on November 17th, 2016 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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It’s time for Kim Mulkey to get in.

For the third consecutive year, Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey has been named a 2019 Naismith Hall of Fame candidate.

Mulkey has 18 conference championships, three trips to the Final Four and two national championships to her name. But even more unique is that she is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Mulkey joins Dean Smith and Bobby Knight to win a national championship as a player and head coach.

This season, the Lady Bears are 18-1, with their only loss coming over now No. 7 Stanford back in December. They are currently on a 10-game win streak, which includes a win over the former No. 1 Connecticut Huskies among several other ranked opponents: No. 23 Arizona State, No. 18 South Carolina and No. 20 Iowa State.

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Baylor came in at No. 1 in the latest AP rankings for the first time since March of 2013, but it is the 40th time the team has earned the top spot. This season alone, you can find Baylor in the nation’s top 10 in 12 statistical categories. They also have four players (and nearly five) averaging double-digit points—a byproduct of unselfish basketball and leading the country in assists per game as a team at 23.4.

Is a third national championship in store for Mulkey? Because her squad has proven to be a serious national championship contender all year long. And without a true or consistent No. 1 team this season in women’s hoops, it’s certainly up for grabs.

Kalani Brown (15.4 ppg), Lauren Cox (12.2 ppg), Juicy Landrum (10.8 ppg), Chloe Jackson (10.8 ppg) and NaLyssa Smith (9.9 ppg) have all helped pave the way this season. An honor like this for Mulkey does not come without players of this caliber who can produce and execute at a really high level. Mulkey can recruit, and that’s obvious every year. She’s earned  Big 12 Coach of the Year honors six times and is a four-time national coach of the year, too.

There’s no question Mulkey has earned it and deserves Hall of Fame honors. The finalists will be announced in mid-February during the NBA All-Star break.

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