“I Was in Heaven”: Kim Mulkey Had No Hesitation in Ditching LSU Practice for Legendary Nick Saban’s Arrival

Kim Mulkey is laser-focused on guiding LSU to their second title under her leadership, and the team has already made a strong start with two consecutive wins. However, achieving this goal will require hard work and resilience, especially since they’re now without their star player, Angel Reese. Nonetheless, Mulkey seems to be exuding confidence and trust in her squad as she just shared her excitement about meeting legendary football coach Nick Saban, even joking that she would have been willing to leave her team in the hands of a colleague just to have that opportunity.

The Lady Tigers cruised past Northwestern State in their second game with yet another convincing win, 95-36. But when Kim Mulkey stepped up to the podium after the win, the media wasn’t solely focused on the impressive scoreline. Instead, their questions shifted to a more personal topic—Mulkey’s recent meeting with former LSU football coach Nick Saban. Saban had made a surprise visit to the Lady Tigers’ shoot around before the game against the Lady Demons and Mulkey couldn’t have been more thrilled by the experience.

“I never met the man in my life. I was in heaven, I was in heaven, and when I heard he wanted to come to practice, I told Bob (Starkey) ‘You better run practice.’ I said cuz I’m probably going to spend the whole hour talking to him and his wife also came,” elated the Lady Tigers head coach. LSU considers Saban a great and respectable figure for his stint with the college football team between 2000-2004.

The 73-year-old head coach led LSU to their first national championship in 45 years, a monumental achievement for the university. Just a year later, Saban made the leap to the NFL, where he continued to build his reputation as one of the greatest coaches in the game. His tenure with the Alabama Crimson Tide was equally impressive, as he led the team to six national championships. After an illustrious career, Saban announced his retirement following the conclusion of last season, marking the end of a legendary coaching era.

Nevertheless, his name finds a sweet spot in every LSU associate’s heart as Mulkey mentioned that even after leaving LSU, he didn’t join any other college but rather made the move to elevate his presence to the pro stage of the NFL. His influence on LSU extended beyond just coaching, as he helped establish top-tier training facilities to better support athletes’ development.

Jan. 4, 2004; New Orleans, LA, USA; Nick Saban, in blue, lifts the BCS National Championship Trophy after the Tigers’ 21-14 victory over Oklahoma in the Nokia Sugar Bowl; Mandatory credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Mulkey revealed their conversation was mostly about her appreciating the legend for his contributions to the college program and she expressed her respect for the discipline and dedication the retired coach possesses. “That was a highlight in my coaching career was to meet him and um I hope I get to do it again someday,” she concluded after her first-ever one-on-one conversation with Saban. 

Furthermore, Saban had also given a speech to the Lady Tigers before they took the court on Friday night, and it seemed to have a clear impact as LSU displayed a commendable team performance.

Nick Saban’s words produce a direct impact on Kim Mulkey’s Lady Tigers

“I wish y’all luck, I know you got a game tonight. I appreciate having the opportunity, I’m going to watch how you guys do because I still root for LSU all the time – except when they play Alabama,” Saban told the LSU girls before the game and it seemed they took his words to their heart.

LSU had already made a strong statement in their NCAA campaign with a dominant 50+ point win over Kentucky just days before. But their momentum didn’t stop there. The Lady Tigers extended their impressive streak with a crushing 59-point victory over the Lady Demons. Leading the charge once again was junior guard Flau’jae Johnson, who continues to shine as the driving force behind LSU’s success.

Mar 24, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) reacts to Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders center Anastasiia Boldyreva (2) fouling out of the game during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson was once again the standout performer for LSU, putting up an impressive 24 points—just shy of her 25-point performance against Kentucky. But she wasn’t alone in this dominant win. Coach Kim Mulkey’s squad had four players reach double figures, highlighting the well-rounded effort that made the 59-point margin of victory seem almost inevitable. The Lady Demons simply had no answer for ladies in white in that game.

Moreover, as Mulkey had expressed her desire for Johnson to become a more vocal leader for the team, she may be a little happier now that Johnson has led her team in scoring for two consecutive games. Whether this newfound scoring consistency fully satisfies Mulkey’s expectations remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure—Mulkey created a memorable moment of her own when she met Nick Saban. That experience, without a doubt, was one of those unforgettable life moments for the coach.

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