MONROE, La. – Late last month, legendary Baylor Lady Bears basketball coach Kim Mulkey announced she was leaving BU to coach in her home state of Louisiana. No one can replace Coach Kim, but Baylor has announced the coach who will step up with hopes of keeping the Lady Bears momentum going.
Coach Kim leaving was a surprise to most of us but as they say, “the show must go on.”
Collen coached the Dream for three seasons, even earning WNBA Coach of the Year honors in 2018 as the Dream finished the season at 23-11 and loss in the semi-finals.
Collen, a former college athlete playing basketball at both Purdue and Marquette, played one year of professional basketball in Greece for the BCM Alexandros in 1997 before starting her college coaching career at Colorado State as an assistant coach in 2001.
Collen would also spend time as an assistant coach at Ball State, Louisville, Arkansas and Florida Gulf Coast before taking an assistant coaching job with the Connecticut Sun from 2015 to 2017.
Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades said in a statement, “Today is an exciting day for Baylor University and our women’s basketball program. Nicki is a passionate leader of young women and an elite basketball mind and teacher of the game.”
Welcome aboard Coach Collen, Sic em Bears!
