Mississippi State named a new head coach for its women’s basketball program on March 12. The hire was Louisville Associate Head Coach, Sam Purcell. Purcell has been regarded as a high level recruiter and coach.
The Auburn graduate was an assistant at Auburn, Tulsa, and Georgia Tech, before a long stint in Louisville.
“During our search, Sam Purcell routinely emerged as one of the nation’s elite recruiters and more importantly, a terrific fit to lead our program,” Cohen said. “Sam has been an integral part of some of the most successful teams in women’s basketball. He is creative, meticulous, and has shown a proven ability to recruit the nation’s top talent and develop student-athletes. Sam is synonymous with the Mississippi State culture and understands the deep meaning of family. We are confident that Sam will elevate every facet of our program. We are pleased to welcome him, his wife Meghan, and his three daughters Reese, Rylee and Reagan to the Mississippi State family.”
Purcell has grown accustomed to winning and experienced high level success as an assistant. His teams have made multiple deep NCAA tournament runs, have wins over many big time programs, and have sent multiple players to the WNBA.
Coach Purcell is obviously excited about his first head coaching opportunity,
“I’m honored and humbled to be the head women’s basketball coach at Mississippi State University, and I am appreciative to John Cohen and the entire university administration for this opportunity. The Purcell family is thrilled to be coming to Starkville, and we can’t wait to meet the team and the entire Bulldog Family. Mississippi State women’s basketball is synonymous with winning, and I fully intend to continue that winning culture. Hail State!”
First things first for Coach Purcell. His Lady Cardinals will battle Tennessee this Saturday at 3:00 pm in the Sweet Sixteen.
Kelby Johnson has been in Mississippi sports in many areas such as coaching, officiating, public address announcing, scouting, and writing.
He is a pastor, a husband, and a father of four. Kelby and his family live in Ecru, MS.
