Mississippi State Women's Basketball Coach Sam Purcell Receives Contract Extension

The Bulldogs' women's hoops coach will stay in Starkville for the foreseeable future.

Mississippi State women's basketball has signed head coach Sam Purcell to a four-year contract extension, the school announced on Thursday.

Purcell's new contract extends him through the 2026-27 basketball season. Under Mississippi law, state employees can not work under contract for more than four years, so Purcell's new deal adds another year to his original contract, while also increasing his base salary to $662,500 per year, keeping him in Starkville for the foreseeable future.

Prior to his contract extension, Purcell was in his first year with the Bulldogs after being hired away from Louisville's women's basketball program in 2022. He replaces Nikki McCray-Penson, who resigned from the Bulldogs during the 2021 season citing health concerns.

In his first year with Mississippi State, Purcell lead the Bulldogs 22-11 record, including 9-7 in SEC play, along with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament after a three-year hiatus. His 22 wins is the most ever by a head coach in his debut season with the Bulldogs.

In the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs defeated Illinois in the First Four to advance to the first round, where they upset the sixth-seeded Creighton in the Round of 64. However, they would lose to the three-seeded Notre Dame in the second round of the tournament.

"My family and I have fallen in love with Starkville, and I am so honored to be your Head Women's Basketball Coach," Purcell said in a statement. 

"I greatly appreciate our Director of Athletics Zac Selmon, and President Dr. Mark Keenum trusting and believing in me to lead this program for years to come. This extension directly reflects the hard work and countless hours that my staff, and my team, have put in this past season. We work each and every day to make our fan base proud because, without all of you, none of this would be possible. I took this job because Women's Basketball matters in Starkville, and I take the pride you have in our program seriously. We are building something special here at Mississippi State, and my family and I are so proud to call Mississippi State Home."

This is the second extension Mississippi State's athletic department has given out this week, after men's basketball coach Chris Janes received a similar extension on Wednesday.