UofL associate coach balancing two important roles this month
Sam Purcell was recently announced as Mississippi State's next head coach, but is also staying on UofL's staff through the rest of the NCAA Tournament
Sam Purcell was recently announced as Mississippi State's next head coach, but is also staying on UofL's staff through the rest of the NCAA Tournament
Sam Purcell was recently announced as Mississippi State's next head coach, but is also staying on UofL's staff through the rest of the NCAA Tournament
University of Louisville women's basketball associate coach Sam Purcell is pulling double-duty this month.
Purcell was recently announced as Mississippi State's . But, he is also staying on UofL's coaching staff until the Cardinals' run in the NCAA Tournament comes to an end.
"We started something special, and I got to make sure we finish it," said Purcell.
Purcell will be formally introduced as Mississippi State's next head coach after UofL's season concludes, according to Mississippi State athletics.
"I couldn't ask for a better situation here at Louisville for everyone who has treated me and my family the best," said Purcell. "And then I'm inheriting the same thing at Mississippi State, where they love women's basketball."
Purcell has been on UofL head coach Jeff Walz's staff since 2013.
"That's what I've told Sam," said Walz. "Don't get too far ahead of yourself. Just enjoy this. Continue to stay focused, and then hopefully in a week and a half, when we are finished, then he can go full go into that and worry about recruiting and everything else he's got.
And he's done a great job. He's been in touch with all his players, he's gone down there. Monday was our day off, he flew down there and met with the entire team, was back on Tuesday for practice."
The Mississippi State job will be Purcell's first job as a head coach.
Purcell said the biggest thing he's learned from Walz about being a head coach is managing people.