LSU coach Kim Mulkey allowed assistant Bob Starkey to coach Friday night's SEC tournament quarterfinal game against Florida while she continued to grieve an unexpected death in her family earlier this week.

After LSU beat Florida, Mulkey took an opportunity to stump for Starkey’s candidacy for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She’s pushed that message before, while crediting Starkey for assuming key responsibilities within her program since he joined her staff in 2022 — a lift that she’s said will extend her coaching career.

According to the SEC Network, Kim Mulkey was away from LSU all week after a death in her family. Bob Starkey is the Tigers' coach vs. Florida.