Expectations high for Kellie Harper leading Mizzou women’s basketball

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Athletics ushered in a new era of women's basketball, with the introduction of former Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper, on Monday morning.

You can watch the full introductory press conference in the video player below.

Mizzou leaders say they want to make women's basketball competitive again.

They think they've found the woman to do it in the school's fifth head women's coach, Kellie Harper.

"Doesn't a banner in here sound really good?" University of Missouri System President Mun Choi said Monday at a news conference to introduce Harper to the school and the public. "That's not a wish; that's an expectation."

Harper was joined on stage by Athletic Director Laird Veach, Choi, Curator Michael Williams and athletics spokesman Dave Matter.

Veach said the search went quickly after former coach Robin Pingeton stepped down after the season. The pool of candidates was deep, he said.

You can watch the full interview with Veatch in the video player below.

Harper, a former head coach at Missouri State and Tennessee, said the job was ideal for her.

"Every box kept getting checked for me," she said about considering Mizzou. "I'm just so happy."

You can watch the full interview with Harper in the video player below.

Harper spent a year outside of coaching after being fired at Tennessee. She worked for the SEC Network during the hiatus from coaching.

Harper signed a five-year, $4.5 million deal with Mizzou. Her contract term begins on Tuesday.

Harper and athletic director Laird Veatch signed the deal on March 19, which was a little more than a week after Veatch addressed the media about what he wanted in a new head coach.