Kim Mulkey's children reflect and defend: 'Excellence isn't for everybody' (2025)

This is a part of a series of Baton Rouge-based Mother's Day stories. To read more click here.

Kramer Robertson believes his mother is misunderstood by most people.

His mother is Kim Mulkey, the Louisiana native and legendary basketball coach who won the national championship her second year at LSU. With four national championships as head coach, she is the only person to have won an NCAA national championship as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. Then throw in the gold medal she won at the Olympics and her induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

But for Robertson and Fuller, she's just their mother. This basketball life is all they've ever known.

The two young adults realizetheir mom is a lightning rod. Robertson says he knows somepeople think she's mean, hard to be around and doesn't have a sense of humor.

"None of those things are true," he said. "From the outside looking in, you see an intense lady who is unapologetic and truly does not care what the outside world thinks of her as long as she holds her close ones close."

What is true, he says, is that his mother has high standards.

She expects a lot out of the people in her inner circle.

"Playing for Kim Mulkey or being Kim Mulkey's kid is definitely not for everybody because excellence isn't for everybody— and that's what she demands," Robertson said. "She expects it out of herself, her family and the people around her."

Robertson, 29, now lives in Baton Rouge after playing professional baseball since he graduated from LSU in 2017.

This spring, for the first time in his life, he's unsure what the future holds. After devoting his life to baseball, he's at a crossroads, coming to grips with the fact that the sport may not be where his future lies.

Meanwhile, his mom is by his side, helping him navigate the murky waters that come with transitions. He says she is his rock.

Robertson describes his mother as laid back, easy to get along with and "almost a comedian" when with people she trusts. He says she's down to earth and humble.

Other than gardening, he admits, she doesn't have a lot of hobbies or interests.

"She doesn't drink. She doesn't party. A lot of people might say she's boring," he said.

He prefers the word "simple" to describe his mother's approach to life.

He also says she's an open book.

"She's as honest of a person as you'll ever meet. She doesn't lie. She never lies," he said. "She will tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it."

God. Family. Basketball.

They're clear on the order of her priorities.

"Nothing has ever been more important than my sister or myself," Robertson said. "No matter what time of life it was, there was never anything that came before us."

His older sister, Makenzie Fuller, is married and the mother of five-year-old Kannon and two-year-old Sage. Fuller still lives in Waco, where she grew up when her mom was coach at Baylor. Mulkey also maintains a home in Waco.

Fuller says she has lived her life secure in the love and unwavering support of her mother. A basketball standout herself, after high school, Fuller played basketball for her mom at Baylor and then went on to join her coaching staff.

She never had to wonder if her mother had her back.

Fuller recalls the day her high school basketball team played in the Texas state championshipin Austin.

Her mom, coaching Baylor at the time, had a big game that night in Waco against Texas A&M. Where was Mulkey?

"She was there cheering me on. We won.She stayed to hug me before hurrying back to Waco," she said. "I ran into the stands with our game ball and gave it to her to take back for me."

Mulkey made it back in time to coach, minutes before tipoff.

Baylor won that game too.

"So she got to see Makenzie win a state championship and she had a big conference win in the same night," Robertson said. "She never missed anything. Anything that she could possibly be at, she was there."

'As coach's kids'

Both Fuller and Robertson say they feel protective of their mother and often wish they could speak out for her— mainly to explain things that have been misconstrued.

"As coach’s kids, that’s one of the most difficult things," Fuller said. "The things you hear from other people— the lies and the hate — and not get a chance to respond. She’s taught us that we don’t need to respond. It’s not going to do any good."

For the most part, Robertson says listening to people criticize his mom has gotten easier through the years.

With one recent and notable exception.

In April, at the end of LSU's basketball season,Gov. Jeff Landry posted criticism on social mediaof the LSU team not being on the court as the national anthem was played before what turned out to be their final game, against Iowa.

The next day, Landry went on Fox News to further discuss the topic.

"There was no protest of the anthem. That is definitely not who my mom is," Robertson said. "You expect that from people who don't know you, but when it's your own people — and people who you consider close that should have your back… you know, she's a Louisiana girl through and through."

Fuller said the accusations took her mom by surprise.

"Out of nowhere, you're being attacked about something you’re proud of. Her dad was in the military," she said. "She's a very proud American."

On occasion, Robertson can't help but defend his mother.

Even against the governor.

"When it comes to the governor," Robertson said, "I think he jumped the gun because he didn't have all the facts. In my opinion, the apology should be as loud and as public as the criticism — and it hasn't been, and that's where I have a problem."

A valedictorian for a mom

When asked to describe her mom, one of the first points Fuller makes is that her mom is smart.

"She’ll make sure to tell you that she has many faults and being wrong isn’t one of them," Fuller said with a chuckle. "She was valedictorian and never missed a day of school."

Beyond that, Fuller is proud that 100% of her mother's student athletes have graduated from college.

"What you think is not exactly what you get. Everyone sees this intense coach with a fiery personality wearing I-don’t-know-what-you-would-call-her attire now," Fuller said.

In fact, Fuller says her mother is the opposite of how she dresses for games — which brings up the question of Mulkey's sartorial choices.

For someone described by both of her children as "laid back" and "easygoing," the question is, "Why the flashy, sparkly clothing?"

Fuller says her mother likes to look good and dress well — and the sparkles, glitz and glamour serve as great marketing.

"It’s added a new layer of fandom and came at a perfect time for NIL players— showing you can be about more than basketball," Fuller said. "In everyday life though, you’ll see her in sweatpants half discolored by Clorox that she was cleaning the pool in."

In answer to the question, "Does she cook?"

Robertson's answer is no-nonsense.

"Hell, no, she doesn't cook. She can't cook," Robertson said.

He quickly added that there are things she does well, aside from coaching basketball: She knows all the words to a baffling number of country songs, is a good gardener, and dances "a little bit better" than he does.

Yet, he says there are times when even he wishes she could be a little softer.

"She's never been one to just come hug me and rub my head and be affectionate and tell me everything's going to be OK. That is not her," Robertson said. "That has never been her, at least not with, at least not with me — but she's always honest, even when I don't want to hear it."

He begrudgingly admits that, in the big picture, his mother always seems to be right.

"I think she knows what I need and always has and always had a little bit better perspective than me — which is to be expected," he said. "She's the mom."