The University of Arkansas has officially appointed Kelsi Musick as the 10th head coach of its women’s basketball team. Musick’s hiring marks a new chapter for the Razorbacks’ program as she steps in with a fresh vision and a proven track record of success in collegiate women’s basketball.
Musick has agreed to a five-year contract that extends through April 30, 2030. Under this agreement, she will receive an annual salary of $600,000, reflecting the university’s commitment to investing in the growth and competitiveness of its women’s basketball program.
Musick arrives in Fayetteville after a productive and impactful three-year tenure at Oral Roberts University (ORU). During her time there, she revitalized the Golden Eagles’ program, leading the team to postseason tournaments in each of her last two seasons. Her efforts resulted in a consistent rise in the team’s win totals year after year. Most recently, Oral Roberts concluded its season with a 24-9 record, capped off by a first-round appearance in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT). This marked the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the Golden Eagles since 2009-2012, an era remembered for its strong performances.
Musick’s influence on Oral Roberts is evident in the steady improvement over her three seasons: the team won 12 games during her first year, improved to 21 victories the next, and achieved a program-high 24 wins in her third season. This achievement was the highest single-season win total for the Golden Eagles since the 1982-83 campaign, when legendary coach Debbie Yow led the team to 26 wins. Beyond their regular season success, Musick’s squads were competitive against higher-profile teams, recording multiple wins over teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and American Athletic Conference (AAC) in recent years.
One of the hallmarks of Musick’s coaching philosophy is her emphasis on a fast-paced, dribble-drive offensive style. This approach has made Oral Roberts a formidable scoring team, placing them among the nation’s top 20 in scoring each season she coached. In her first year, the team averaged 78.1 points per game, ranking 16th nationally. The following season, they increased that average to 81.8 points per game, climbing to eighth in the country. During the most recent regular season, the team maintained that top-10 status with an average of 83.2 points per game. Musick’s ability to attract and develop talented players is another key to her success. She coached standout athletes such as 2023-24 Summit League Freshman of the Year Emily Robinson, Newcomer of the Year Taleyah Jones, and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Jalei Oglesby. Jones and Oglesby were also named to the All-Summit League First Team after leading the Golden Eagles in scoring, averaging 18.1 and 17.3 points per game respectively.
Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas’ Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor, expressed strong enthusiasm for Musick’s hiring. He praised her work ethic, enthusiasm, and her skill at making the most of the resources available to her. Yurachek highlighted her ability to build strong relationships and communicate effectively, traits that have benefited her teams both on and off the court. He also noted that Musick’s familiarity with the Oklahoma region, where she grew up and coached, will aid her in quickly connecting with Arkansas’ community and fan base.
According to Yurachek, Musick is considered a rising star in women’s basketball coaching. He believes that Arkansas offers the ideal environment for her to reach her full potential as a coach while steering the Razorbacks toward competing successfully against the elite teams in the SEC. He added that throughout their discussions, Musick made it clear she was eager to become part of the Arkansas program and welcomed the challenge of building a winning team. Yurachek also expressed gratitude to members of the search committee, including Derita Dawkins, Taylor McGillis, and Kat Devenport, for their assistance in the hiring process.
Musick’s most recent season with Oral Roberts saw the team finish second in the Summit League, an improvement from their third-place finish the previous year. The 2023-24 season was historic for the program, marking the first 20-win season since 2011-12. The team also hosted Grambling in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), marking their first postseason appearance since 2011.
In her own words, Musick expressed deep honor and gratitude for the opportunity to lead Arkansas women’s basketball. She recognized the school’s rich tradition, passionate fan base, and commitment to excellence. She emphasized her excitement about the challenge ahead, including competing in the highly competitive SEC and representing the university with pride. Musick thanked Hunter Yurachek and his staff for their confidence in her and expressed eagerness to begin working with the student-athletes.
Before joining Oral Roberts, Musick spent 13 successful seasons as the head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), an NCAA Division II program. Over her tenure, she compiled an impressive record of 259 wins against 125 losses, translating to a winning percentage of .674. Musick earned Great American Conference Coach of the Year honors five times while guiding the Lady Bulldogs to seven NCAA Tournament appearances. One of her most notable accomplishments was leading SWOSU to the national championship game in 2019.
Under Musick’s leadership, the Lady Bulldogs consistently ranked among the nation’s top teams in scoring offense, finishing in the Top 10 nationally seven times. In five of those seasons, the team averaged over 80 points per game. During her final year, the team averaged 82.1 points per game, ranking third nationally. That season also saw sophomore Makyra Tramble earn the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year award as well as All-American honors. Tramble went on to become a three-time All-American and three-time Great American Conference Player of the Year. Musick’s 2018-19 SWOSU squad set a school record with 35 consecutive wins and advanced to the NCAA National Championship game, marking the pinnacle of her tenure there.
Musick’s coaching career began at Fresno State, where she spent the 2003-04 season as Director of Basketball Operations. She then returned to her roots by coaching at Canton High School in Oklahoma, her alma mater, for two seasons. Following that stint, she went back to Fresno State, serving as Basketball Operations Coordinator from 2006-08, then moving into an assistant coach role for one season. During her time as an assistant, Fresno State won back-to-back 20-win seasons, claimed Western Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2009.
Musick’s playing career was at Cameron University, where she set school records for career three-point shooting percentage and assists. As a senior, she helped lead the Aggies to a program-best 25 wins and their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Recognizing her accomplishments, Cameron University inducted Musick into their Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2025.
Outside of basketball, Musick is married to Josh, and together they have three children: two sons, Maddox and Titus, and a daughter, Amaria.
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