By: Kayla Minor
April 16, 2020
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)--- There is no doubt some Bulldog fans remember seeing firsthand how such a competitor she was when she played at Tennessee, they watched what she helped build at South Carolina as an assistant coach and she excelled in her first head coaching role. Many say she was only fitting for the job.
Its official! Athletic Director John Cohen has announced the next Mississippi State Women's Basketball Coach.
“What's really important is to know she is a great person. She has incredible discipline. She understands the meaning of family. She has toughness and she have unbelievable drive. So, I want to introduce you to your next head basketball coach, Nikki McCray-Penson,” John Cohen said.
Many big names in the women's basketball world expressed their excited for the new head coach. Many say it was well deserving and a great choice for Mississippi state. Head Coach Nikki McCray-Penson says, she is very eager to get to work.
"Hi bulldog family, this is Nikki McCray-Penson. Me and my family are excited about this opportunity and looking forward to a packed hump. Go bulldogs and hail state," Head Coach Nikki McCray-Penson said.
Coach Nikki McCray-Penson has achievements that may just stretch longer than both of my arms combined and they're long. She's played and coached in the Final Four, she was inducted into the women's basketball Hall of Fame, as a player, combined 17 total championships in her basketball career, 3-time WNBA All-Star, and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. And the list goes on and on. MSU fans have total confidence in the new head coach.
"I feel, she'll be able to get through to them and show them like that there's still work to be done here, to improve. But, hopefully she will, because she has experience with coaching the sec. So, she's had some good teaching. She can bring that teaching she's had put it into our players. I feel that she'll be able to continue that Vic Schaefer left here.” Chris Winford said.
Mississippi State Head Coach Nikki McCray-Penson held an introductory press conference via Zoom for the media, Tuesday April 14. She says that “when you’re passionate about something, that means you care about it.” That’s who she describes Mississippi State Women’s basketball team. Passionate.