Mulkey Urges Lawmakers to OK Payments for Athletes
New LSU Women’s Basketball head coach Kim Mulkey implored lawmakers to pass legislation allowing student-athletes to receive compensation for their image and likeness.
Mulkey says this legislation would allow those student-athletes to do things that are transformative in their lives.
She told lawmakers "please, please listen to me. It's gonna change all of college athletics. It's gonna change your life, your grandchildren's life and everybody's life."
The legislation by Senator Patrick Connick would allow students to sell their likeness and appear in advertisements or endorsements without having their status or student benefits impacted. The bill awaits a hearing in Senate Finance. Mulkey says this bill will make the lives of all student-athletes better, even ones from small schools.
"Study it. I'm not a lobbyist. I'm just an old country girl that loves to compete and loves this state as much, if not more than most of you."
Mulkey, a hall of fame coach with three titles from her time at Baylor, was hired last month by LSU to revive the struggling women’s basketball program. Since her hire 3,000 deposits have been paid for season tickets.