Robin Pingeton is back in coaching, and moving to the Big Ten.
After stepping away from Missouri women’s basketball on March 5 after 15 years as the Tigers’ head coach, Pingeton was named as Wisconsin’s new coach. She will take over for Marisa Moseley, who spent five seasons at the helm in Madison.
Wisconsin has not been to the NCAA Tournament since before Pingeton was hired at Mizzou in 2010. The Badgers’ last berth to the Big Dance was in the 2009-10 season, and they have cycled through four head coaches since then. Pingeton was hired by MU in April 2010.
Pingeton announced Wednesday, Feb. 26, that she was going to step down as head coach of the Tigers at the end of this season after several years of underwhelming results. Mizzou had not been to the NCAA Tournament or had a winning record in SEC play since 2019 under her leadership. Under Pingeton’s stewardship, Missouri was 250-218 across 15 seasons.
Over 29 total seasons between Missouri, Illinois State, and her alma mater St. Ambrose, Pingeton has a 585-374 record, which makes her the 17th-winningest active Division-I women’s basketball coach.
After coaching her final game at Mizzou Arena on March 2, Pingeton said that she hadn’t given much thought to what may be next for her.
“I haven’t (thought about it). I’m pretty open. We’ll see,” Pingeton said on March 2. “I’m excited to see the next adventure and what that looks like, but to the best of my ability, I’m really trying to keep my feet and my mind in the same place.”
As it turns out, Wisconsin is next. That comes with significant challenges.
More: What Missouri women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton said after final Mizzou Arena game
More: Missouri women’s basketball transfer portal: What new MU coach Kellie Harper faces in portal
The Badgers haven’t one more than six Big Ten games since the 2010-11 season. They haven’t finished above .500 in a season in that same time span.
Missouri quickly found Pingeton’s replacement, announcing the hiring of former Tennessee and Missouri State coach Kellie Harper and signing her to a five-year deal on March 18.
The college basketball transfer portal opened on Monday. Mizzou is expected to be active as it rebuilds its roster.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Former Missouri women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton hired at Wisconsin
