Mizzou’s Kellie Harper adds fourth assistant coach to women’s hoops staff

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou women's basketball coach Kellie Harper added more veteran experience to her coaching staff, on Tuesday afternoon.

Tiger Athletics announced that Todd Schaefer is the latest addition to the staff. He will come to Columbia with 29 years of experience in the coaching realm, having spent the last eight year with at Arkansas. Schaefer started as an assistant coach for the Razorbacks, but soon proved his value and earned a promotion to associate head coach in 2019.

"I am so excited to bring Todd and his family into our Missouri family," Harper said in a press release. Todd is an experienced coach and recruiter and is very familiar with the SEC. He has worked with and developed multiple WNBA players and our student-athletes will love his creativity and energy on the court."

Schaefer helped Arkansas to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as five-straight postseason berths in his time in Fayetteville. He also became known for his ability to grow and develop talent, as he coached athletes to five All-American honors, seven all-conference honors, four all-freshman recognitions and a freshman of the year award.

He, notably, played an important role in the development of Chelsea Dungee, as she went on to be the fifth overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft to the Dallas Wings.

The assistant coach will bring quite a bit of Southeastern Conference experience to Columbia. Before working at Arkansas, Schaefer spent three years at Ole Miss, from 2013 to 2016.

Previous to his time with the Rebels, Schaefer worked for one season at Washington, where he helped shape two-time WNBA champion and three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum. That season, she finished her career as the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native's other coaching stops include Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Arkansas Tech, Christian Brothers University, Allen County Community College, Western Illinois and Greenbrier High School.