“Kim built a cult following of incredibly loyal fans who loved her, the players and the winning,” says David Smoak, a longtime journalist covering Baylor and the voice of a popular Waco radio program. “She was there when Baylor was deep in the hole and trying to overcome an embarrassing time in athletics. She was the beacon of hope who helped and showed Baylor and their fans they could win championships. She was the General.”

“I go from happy to pissed off in a matter of seconds.”

Once a powerhouse in the SEC, the LSU women’s basketball program has slipped into mediocrity, missing three of the last five NCAA tournaments and finishing no better than fourth in the league over the past decade—a fall that began with a sex scandal involving coach Pokey Chatman in 2007.