Report: Mizzou WBB coach Robin Pingeton set to return for 15th season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Robin Pingeton, the leader of Tiger women's basketball, will coach in her 15th season in Columbia in 2024-25, per a report from PowerMizzou.com
The athletic department told ABC 17 that it can not confirm anything happening at this point, as there has been no official word from the department since the season ended.
The report comes after MU entered a bit of uncertainty in the offseason following the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Prior to her 14th season kicking off, former Mizzou Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois reportedly set the NCAA Tournament, which the program has not appeared in since 2018-19, as the standard for the season.
Mizzou finished the year 11-19 overall and 2-14 in SEC action, following a first round exit in the conference tournament and no appearance in the NCAA or WNIT. Pingeton's crew finished the season on a 12-game losing streak.
"Their character, their work ethic and you just feel like good things should happen, but sometimes that happens in life," Pingeton said in a press conference following the loss in the SEC Tournament in South Carolina.
Pingeton first came on campus in 2010 and has led MU to four NCAA Tournament berths and 10 overall postseason appearances. In her first 14 years with the Tigers, she has also guided the program to 21 wins over Top-25 teams and six over teams ranked in the Top-10.
She also ranks second in winning percentage and victories in MU history, only trailing Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford.
Mizzou will look for better results in the 2024-25 campaign. Barring any departures, the team is set to return to some good talent for the upcoming season. Freshmen Grace Slaughter, Abbey Schreacke, and Hannah Linthacum all got solid minutes in their debut season and will enter year two with experience under their belt.
Pingeton did already see one notable transfer portal departure, after the season ended. Star guard Mama Dembele hit the portal and announced she will play at South Florida next season. She ranked seventh in the country in steals and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team in her senior year. Dembele ranked first on the team in assists and steals by a margin of 136 and 75, respectively. She also finished the season scoring the fourth-most points on the roster and grabbing the third-most rebounds after appearing in 29 of Mizzou's 30 games.
In addition to Dembele, Mizzou will also be without star forward Hayley Frank in 2024-25, as the Missouri-native is now out of eligibility. On the bright side, standout guard Ashton Judd, at this point, will still return.
The season will tip off in November of 2024.
