COLUMBIA, Mo. 鈥 When Robin Pingeton took a job as Missouri鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball coach in 2010, she thought she would wind up coaching in the Big Ten. That鈥檚 where the realignment winds were rumored to be blowing at the time, only for the Tigers to land in the Southeastern Conference two years later.
鈥淚鈥檓 thinking: I鈥檓 a Midwest girl; this isn鈥檛 what I signed up for,鈥 said Pingeton, who hails from Atkins, Iowa, after her team鈥檚 game Sunday.
That contest, which was her 467th for MU, was her last at home. Pingeton鈥檚 contract expires at the end of April, and she has agreed to step down at the end of Missouri鈥檚 SEC tournament run.
Mizzou lost to Vanderbilt 100-59 to close the regular season 14-17 overall and 3-13 in SEC play. MU turned the ball over 24 times in the game, which matched a season high.
鈥淚 hate that this was the effort and how it ended at Mizzou Arena for her because I think she deserves more,鈥 guard Ashton Judd said.
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鈥淚鈥檓 super-thankful to have had these years,鈥 guard Grace Slaughter, the potential centerpiece of future years, said. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 how we wanted it to go.鈥
The Tigers finished 15th in the conference, meaning they鈥檒l face No. 10 seed Mississippi State at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina, to begin the SEC tournament.
Pingeton, who is 250-217 at Missouri, made her first public comments Sunday about choosing to leave the post slightly earlier than was contractually required.
鈥淚 wanted to give our administration plenty of time to get their ducks in a row and get organized,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he portal hits fast, and just to be proactive and not drag this out.鈥
Yes, the transfer portal is coming. It鈥檒l open for women鈥檚 basketball players March 25, which could serve as a functional goal-date for the new coach to be in place so that the person can maximize the opportunity to retool the roster.
How quickly athletics director Laird Veatch is prepared to move on the hiring is not yet clear. Pingeton鈥檚 departure after this season has been a rather foregone conclusion for nearly a year, but if Veatch is targeting a coach such as Grand Canyon鈥檚 Molly Miller or California鈥檚 Charmin Smith, he might have to wait until those teams鈥 NCAA Tournament runs expire.
Pingeton was optimistic about the potential of the program, offering multiple endorsements of Veatch鈥檚 vision for the athletics department.
鈥淚 want to see someone take them to the next level,鈥 she said.
She declined to say specifically whether she hopes to continue coaching, but the timing of her exit makes that more possible, given that she鈥檒l be available early in the coaching carousel. And she seemed thankful, not resentful, for how her exit has ultimately played out.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really not that deep,鈥 Pingeton said. 鈥淔ifteen years is a long time. I feel a heart full of gratitude.鈥
In her three-minute speech to fans who stayed past the final buzzer, Pingeton thanked them for their attendance and support.
鈥淣o doubt, it鈥檚 time to pass the torch and empower a new women鈥檚 basketball coach for you guys, for these guys,鈥 she said, gesturing to the players who stood with arms linked on the court. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be great.鈥
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