Mississippi State introduces Nikki McCray-Penson as head women’s basketball coach

Just one year removed from back-to-back trips to the national title game, Vic Schaefer left some pretty big shoes to fill at Mississippi State upon his departure for Texas.

- - just one year removed from- back-to-back trips, to the- national title game... vic- schaefer left some pretty big - shoes to fill, at mississippi - state... upon his departure for- texas.- and who better to lace 'em up..- than someone who did lace 'em - up... in the southeastern - conference.

- on tuesday... nikki mccray- - penson was introduced as- the eighth head women's - basketball coach, at m-s-u... - now her third stop, in the- s-e-c.- mccray-penson was the s-e-c - player of the year at - tennessee, under pat summit...- and was later a part of - south carolina's first-ever - national championship...- as an assistant to dawn staley.- more recently... mccray-penson- spent the past three seasons, - at old dominion... where she wa- just named conference u-s-a - coach of the year... last month- her entire career... apparently- just one big magnet...- to winning.

- - "you want to talk about a winner.

Nikki - has been part of 17 different - championships as a player and a- coach."

"i'm a competitor.

And my dna i winning - championships.

I want to be - playing on the last day every - season.

That is a beautiful - - - - thing.

I know what that feels - like, i know what it tastes lik- and it's a beautiful thing.

So- just- getting our kids to understand- that and what that looks like - and the progress- towards that.

And this- university is used to that.

Thi- women's basketball team is- - - - used to that.

So they already - have it.

We just have to sustai- it."

- - - mccray-penson has retained ever- player, on the roster she - inherited... with the exception- of rising senior