Auburn women’s basketball assistant coach Bob Starkey is headed to LSU

Johnnie Harris has an open spot to fill on her coaching staff.

Auburn women’s basketball assistant coach Bob Starkey has left Auburn and is heading to LSU.

Starkey spent just one season at Auburn before returning to LSU, where he spent 13 seasons (1998-2011) with the women’s program and seven with the men’s (1990-1996).

“It was the most difficult decision of my professional career to leave Auburn,” he said on Twitter Tuesday. “I greatly believe in the vision of @CoachJ_AU and will cherish forever working with her and her staff.”

Auburn went 10-18 and 2-14 in SEC play in year one under Johnnie Harris. Auburn upset No. 4 Tennessee 71-61 for the first SEC win of the season.

It was the first SEC win for Auburn since 2000 and their first win over a top 5 team since 1997.

“I leave knowing Auburn women’s basketball is in great hands with coach (Johnnie) Harris, a talented staff and committed administration,” Starkey wrote in a statement Tuesday. “The truth is there is only one job I would have ever considered and that was the opportunity afforded to Sherie and I to go ‘home.’ ” – via Montgomery Advertiser

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