Mulkey Named AP National Coach of the Year

TAMPA, Fla. – Baylor women's basketball head coach Kim Mulkey was announced as the Associated Press (AP) National Coach of the Year for the second time in her career Thursday afternoon.

Mulkey has the Lady Bears on the nation's longest winning streak at 27 games and booked Baylor's fourth NCAA Final Four appearance and first since 2012.

In 18-plus seasons as a head coach, she has attained 574 career victories and ranks No. 2 among the winningest active Division I head coaches in winning percentage (.853). She is No. 3 all-time by percentage between two mentors, second-ranked Leon Barmore (.869) and Pat Summitt (.841).

Baylor's .931 winning percentage (310-23) in that span is second only to UConn, and Mulkey coached the Lady Bears to their 10th regular season and 10th Big 12 Tournament championship this season.

Baylor is 10-1 thus far vs. the AP Top 25 in 2018-19, including a key win over No. 1 UConn Jan. 3. Mulkey and the Lady Bears took over the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll Jan. 28 and have remained there since.

Mulkey's Lady Bears are 574-99 since her arrival in Waco for the 2000-01 season. She's compiled 20 Big 12 Championships, 18 NCAA Tournament appearances (16-straight) and four appearances in the NCAA Final Four with the Lady Bears.

Earning the seventh national coaching honor of her career, the Associated Press also recognized Mulkey as Coach of the Year in 2012.

Mulkey and the No. 1 overall seed Lady Bears (35-1) face No. 7/7 Oregon (33-4) in the NCAA Final Four Friday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.