Bulldogs Sign Purcell to Contract Extension

Mississippi State announced on Thursday the signing of a contract extension for women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell through the 2028-29 season.

In his first three seasons as head coach, the Bulldogs have stacked up 67 wins, 24 of them being in conference play, and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In the 2024-25 campaign, Purcell led the Bulldogs to their 13th NCAA Tournament trip in program history.

So far during Purcell’s tenure, he has reeled in seven ESPNW top-100 signees, with five of them being top 50. His most recent recruiting class ranked 11th overall, which is good for second in program history.

Purcell has also led State to achieving four All-SEC Selections and one All-American selection, that player being Jessika Carter in the 2023-24 season. She averaged 14.9 points and 9.9 rebounds in her graduate season, eventually being selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.

One notable characteristic about Coach Purcell is how consistent he is. After only returning three players from the team’s 2023-24 roster, State still managed to finish the 2024-25 campaign with a 22-12 overall record, its third straight season with 20 or more victories.

While bringing in new faces to Starkville, State’s 2025-26 squad already has a lot of experience and veteran presence. The Bulldogs will look to continue building something big as they seek a national championship under the direction of Coach Purcell.

Author administrator Kellen Walker