MU moving to fill vacant women's basketball coaching job

COLUMBIA — While the women’s college basketball season came to a close on Tuesday night, the search for a new women’s coach at Missouri may also be coming to a close. MU Director of Athletics Mike Alden, Senior Associate A.D. Sarah Reesman and Special Assistant to the Athletic Director Gary Link conducted interviews in St. Louis on Monday and Tuesday.

Missouri is looking to replace Cindy Stein, who left after coaching 12 seasons for the Tigers. The school is not releasing the names of the candidates, but Kate Lakin, the assistant director of media relations for the team, said that up to five candidates were being interviewed.

The decision should be made soon.

“Hopefully by the end of the week,” Lakin said via text message.

The interviews were held in St. Louis because it made travel easier for the candidates and it gave them more privacy, according to Lakin. With the spring signing period looming April 14, it is important for the Tigers to hire someone soon.

While it is unclear who the MU administration would like to see in the job, two coaches seem worthy of taking over the program — Texas Christian head coach Jeff Mittie and Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton. Mittie has led the Hornfrogs to nine NCAA tournament appearances in the past 10 seasons. Mittie is a Blue Springs native. Before coaching at TCU, Mittie coached at Arkansas State and Missouri Western.

Pingeton was named the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year while leading the Redbirds to the WNIT semifinals. Pingeton also has Big 12 ties. She was an assistant coach at Iowa State from 2000-03.