As LSU eyes another NCAA title, the absence of Angel Reese presents a puzzle. With her leadership gone, the Tigers face the challenge of finding a replacement. While players like Flau’jae Johnson are stepping up, with the road ahead requiring a change in leadership, assistant coach Seimone Augustus knows replacing Reese’s all-around impact is no easy task.

In a recent episode of the “In Case You Missed It” podcast with Khristina Williams, Seimone Augustus shared her insight on working with Kim Mulkey and the monumental task facing LSU as they attempt to move forward without their former leader. “Angel was the leader. Angel was like leader on and off the court, points, rebounds, everything. So now we get to see a new set of leaders, a new set of followers, a new set of competitors. Like who’s going to step up to this challenge and fill that role?”

This uncertainty surrounding leadership is something that resonates with Augustus as she explained, it might take multiple players to complete the role that Reese played for the Tigers. It didn’t take her a year to lead the team in scoring and help them to the national title. But as Augustus notes, it wasn’t just her on-court skills. As a leader, Reese also took accountability for the results, she understood her role and acted upon it.

During one of the games against Auburn last season, she uttered, “I had to be there for them once they set the pick-and-roll, stepping up and helping on that guard on the screen. I think I did a great job keeping the team together as well. Last time, I don’t think I did a great job of leading the team in the right way.” The 22-year-old had taken responsibility for their defeat previously and turned it right around for a 71-66 victory in the next match up. So now, with such a reliable figure gone, LSU Tigers is still on a journey of self-discovery as they find themselves in an era needing a new leader and a new identity.

“But who are you now that Angel has been removed? What is your identity?” the assistant coach remarks. But she considers it an opportunity for the young talents to pick on so many roles and grow.

“Over the last few weeks we were starting to see they starting to learn how tough it is to lead and also how tough it is to follow, and also bring your best every day and make sure that your teammates are emotionally okay, and make sure the coaches are all right. It’s like a process, but it’s a beautiful mix of chaos that has a number of opportunities for them all to grow,” she says. 

Augustus may be new to the LSU, but coaching, she knows well. Finding optimism in the struggles, the coach will be bringing in her experience to help shape the Tigers and that, while molding herself under coach Mulkey.

Seimone Augustus revamps LSU coaching in the absence of Reese

While the WNBA champion is enjoying watching the Tigers get back their groove, she is also drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a coach. Reflecting on her time coaching with the Los Angeles Sparks and with Athletes Unlimited, Augustus discussed the value of observation and stepping back to allow players the freedom to grow.

“With AU, it was a different mindset because it was a player-led league,” she said in the podcast. “Some of them [Coaches] are micromanagers like they want to do everything. At AU, it taught me how to be a coach that steps back and lets the players figure things out. I can guide them when needed, but I don’t always have to step in.”

This hands-off approach to coaching contrasts with traditional methods and is something Augustus brings to her role at LSU. Her unique philosophy, combined with her impressive resume, was precisely what attracted Head Coach Kim Mulkey, who was eager to have Augustus join her staff as an assistant coach.

In fact, during Augustus’s brief break from coaching in 2023, Mulkey seized the opportunity to recruit her, getting straight to the point. “I had a coach that retired, and I would love to have you on my staff.” Now the assistant coach is eager to learn under her. “As a young coach, you want experience. You want to be able to learn from great coaches and she is that.” 

As the LSU Tigers face the challenge of filling Angel Reese’s shoes, perhaps all they need is the perfect blend of Augustus’s experience and Mulkey’s leadership to guide Flau’jae and the crew back to championship form.