Former Mizzou women’s basketball coach takes the reins at Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (KMIZ)

For the first time in 15 years, former Mizzou women's basketball coach Robin Pingeton will open up a season sporting something other than black and gold. On Tuesday, the University of Wisconsin announced that Coach P will be taking the reins of the women's hoops program.

"I am excited to get to Madison and get to work," Pingeton said in a press release. "Relationships are very important to me. I appreciate the time I spent with [Athletic Director] Chris McIntosh and [Deputy Athletic Director] Marcus Sedberry and I can tell my value system aligns with the people at Wisconsin. I learned a lot in almost 15 years in the Southeastern Conference and I am ready to apply that in Madison while also evolving with the changing landscape in college athletics. There is a rich tradition of athletics success at Wisconsin and I can't wait to get started!"

The move comes after Pingeton decided to step away from Tiger women's basketball, following the 2024-25 campaign. While she led MU to 10 postseason appearances - including four NCAA Tournaments - in her time in Columbia, the last few years of her tenure were rocky. She went 43-51 in her last three seasons and has not made an NCAA Tournament since former Tiger star Sophie Cunningham's senior year, which was the 2018-19 campaign. In her final season, Coach P ended up below .500, with a 14-18 mark overall.

Although the end wasn't what she would have hoped, Coach P still ended up in the program record books. She is second in winning percentage and victories all-time, only trailing Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford.

"I am extremely pleased that Robin will be joining the Wisconsin Athletics family," McIntosh said in a press release. "She has accomplished so much as a coach and has produced winners both on the court and in the classroom. Robin has Midwest roots and coaching experience and she and her family will fit right into our local community as well as our state. I am thrilled to welcome Robin, her husband, Rich, and their two sons to Wisconsin."

Wisconsin will be Pingeton's third head coaching stop, after she started her career and Illinois State and then made a home in Columbia for 15 seasons. She's also served in assistant coaching roles at Iowa State and St. Ambrose in her career.

The Badgers have not announced a press conference to introduce Pingeton to the Wisconsin faithful, quite yet.