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    “Can’t be married to two wives”: Kim Mulkey explains why Gary Redus II won’t be with LSU for March Madness after Rutgers hire

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    Kim Mulkey will not have Gary Redus II on the LSU bench for March Madness, following the latter’s hire by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Whether or not Redus will remain with the Tigers through the postseason has been a hot question since Rutgers hired him last week.

    Mulkey answered the question on Friday while appearing on ESPN 104.5’s Off the Bench.

    “I know his love for our program and our team,” Mulkey said. “He’d want to be on the bench for us, too. But as a mentor, I can’t be selfish and ask him to stay with our team because this could be a long three- or four-week process with the playoffs. You need to be working.

    “You can’t be married to two wives,” she continued. “I said, ‘Get out of here, go to work, get your staff in place, get your kids that are there to stay.’”

    Rutgers will be Gary Redus II’s first head coaching gig. Before he was offered the role, he had stacked up a wealth of experience as an assistant coach across college basketball. He arrived on Mulkey’s coaching staff in 2022-23, helping the Tigers beat Iowa to win the national championship.

    He previously held roles as an assistant coach at SMU, Vanderbilt, and Delta State in Division II. He was a standout basketball star at South Alabama before a professional career overseas.

    Redus comes from an athletic heritage, being the son of former MLB outfielder Gary Redus Sr. The elder Redus played 13 seasons in the league.

    Kim Mulkey endorses another staff member leaving with Gary Redus II

    It has also been reported that Gary Redus II could depart LSU with another member of Kim Mulkey’s staff. Mulkey confirmed this, noting that Daphne Mitchell may go with Redus to be on his staff at Rutgers. She said she “would” be happy for Mitchell if it happens.

    “I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to be the next women’s basketball coach at Rutgers University,” Redus said. “I am no stranger to the rich history of basketball here at Rutgers, and I look forward to building on that legacy as we move the program forward.”

    Redus has been the Tigers’ chief recruiter over the past four seasons, helping the program assemble two top classes in college basketball. However, the Scarlet Knight will be another kind of challenge for the coach.