COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton announced on Tuesday that former standout guard Bri Kulas has rejoined the program as a graduate student manager. Kulas, a 2014 WNBA Draft pick and two-time All-Southeastern Conference performer, joins the Tigers staff after completing her professional playing career and spending last season as an assistant coach at Johnson County (Kan.) Community College.
“We’re thrilled that Bri has returned to our Mizzou family as she is looking to further her coaching career and education,” Pingeton said. “She was one of our players who laid the foundation for success with our current roster. She was able to continue on to play at the highest level, and her experiences here and in the pro ranks will only help mentor our student-athletes. Her familiarity with us and love for Mizzou made this a natural fit. We couldn’t be happier to have her join our staff.”
In 2015-16 at Johnson County, Kulas mentored players with on-court coaching, played a vital role in recruiting, handled film breakdown and oversaw the team’s study hall program. JCCC went a perfect 30-0 during the regular season, won the East Jayhawk Conference title and advanced to the NJCAA Region VI Division II final.
“I am excited and thankful for the opportunity given by Coach Pingeton to work with her staff as a graduate student manager,” Kulas said. “I was fortunate enough to play at Mizzou for two years and I am happy to be back with my Mizzou family. I have great respect for what Coach Pingeton and her staff have done with the program and cannot wait to absorb my surroundings and learn as much as possible as I continue my coaching career.”
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Kulas was the 28th pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars. She also played professionally in Spain for Gran Canarias and Rivas and in Germany for Halle Lions.
Kulas played her final two collegiate seasons at Mizzou, leading the Tigers in scoring both years while earning All-SEC recognition. She became the 32nd member of the program’s 1,000-Point Club in only 63 games, finishing with 1,008 points at Mizzou.
As a senior in 2013-14, she was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s head coaches and earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press. She averaged 18.3 points per game, which ranked second in the SEC.
As a junior, Kulas was a second-team All-SEC honoree after scoring 13.8 points per game, which was the ninth-best total among SEC players. She led the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, made field goals, made free throws and minutes played.
Kulas began her collegiate career at Kansas State then transferred to Johnson County, where she became an NJCAA Division II All-American and led her team to a 32-3 record, Jayhawk East Conference title and a perfect 18-0 mark in conference play in 2011-12.
A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Kulas graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism with an emphasis in Sport Management in 2014. She is pursuing her master’s in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Positive Coaching.
— Mizzou Athletics —