“Doesn’t a (championship) banner here sound really good?” said Mun Choi, UM System president and MU chancellor. “That’s not a wish, it’s an expectation.” 

The Kellie Harper era has begun for Missouri, and based on everything said at her first press conference, high expectations come with it. Harper has a rich history of winning over her 20 seasons as a head coach, compiling four conference tournament championships and nine NCAA tournament appearances.

Although the Tigers have finished well below .500 in conference play the previous two seasons, Harper believes she can help the program make a quick turnaround. 

“I’m not trying to look years down the road,” Harper said. “You get the right pieces, you can make some waves pretty quick.”

A few of the ‘right pieces’ Harper will be working with are the newly hired assistant coaches Kenzie Kostas, Jennifer Sullivan and Liza Fruendt. Each has crossed paths with Harper in the past either as players or coaches, and will now rejoin her at Missouri. 

“They are all very good on the court, they’re very good in the office and they’re very good recruiters,” Harper said. “I hit a grand slam with my staff.”

While Harper brought in familiar faces to join her on the staff, her band of players is new to her. A group headlined by junior guard Grace Slaughter and senior guard Ashton Judd, the Tigers have seven players on the roster after losing seven others to the portal and graduation. Slaughter and Judd, along with returners junior guard Abbey Schreacke and redshirt junior guard Averi Kroenke currently make up the core; one that Harper believes in. 

“We have a good core of returners …  they’re really making up the core, the foundation,”  Harper said. “And I’m super excited about who we have here.”

While showing faith in the current roster, the portal is the next step in rounding out the team. 

“We’ve got to address some needs on the court, we’re gonna do that in the transfer portal,”  Harper said. “We’re really excited about who we think we can bring in, in terms of talent … They’re going to be great people, great teammates and hopefully elite competitors as well.” 

Harper made it clear her culture would be built through consistent dedication across the board. To currently rostered players or transfers, joining her program means approaching every day with the right mentality.   

“They better like it every day when they walk in here, they better feel good about it,” Harper said. “‘Cause they can walk right out if they don’t.” 

Edited by Colin Simmons l csimmons@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com