Kellie Harper has been hired as the new women's basketball coach at Missouri, where the former coach of SEC rival Tennessee will have the job of rebuilding a once-proud program that has not been to the NCAA Tournament in six years.

Former Tennessee women's basketball coach Kellie Harper has been named the new head coach of Missouri women’s basketball, the university announced Tuesday, marking her return to the state where she previously led Missouri State to the Sweet 16 in 2019. Harper takes over after the resignation of Robin Pingeton.

The 47-year-old Harper is both a veteran of coaching and familiar with the state she will now coach in. Before taking the Tennessee job, Harper was the head coach at Missouri State from 2013-19, leading the Lady Bears to two NCAA Tournament appearances — one of which included a trip to the Sweet 16.