LSU coach gives birth to baby girl

College basketball coaches preparing for the NCAA Tournament are known to burn the midnight oil this time of the year.

LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell is no different.

But this March, the first-year Lady Tigers head woman will be doing more than game planning and watching film.

She’ll also be making bottles and changing diapers for her newborn baby girl.

Caldwell and her longtime boyfriend, former NFL running back Justin Fargas announced last Tuesday that the coach was resting comfortably after giving birth to Justice Simone Fargas – the couple’s first child.

Weighing 6-pounds, 15-ounces, the baby girl was delivered at 5:44 a.m. at a Baton Rouge hospital.

“We are doing great and are excited about this beautiful moment in our lives,” Caldwell said in a statement. “Being a mother has always been a dream of mine. Justin and I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support from our LSU family and fans.”

Little Justice’s delivery came at the best possible time for the LSU women’s basketball team.

The Lady Tigers were off from on-court competition all week after completing the SEC Tournament last weekend.

The team found out its NCAA Tournament fate Monday when the women’s selection show was held.

LSU’s seed was not available at press time, but bracketologists estimate the Lady Tigers will likely be somewhere between a four and a six-seed.

One issue not up for debate is where LSU would play once the tournament began.

The Lady Tigers are guaranteed to host the opening two rounds of the tournament at home in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

That certainly makes things easier for the new mother, who had a clear message for anyone wondering whether she would return to the bench when the NCAA Tournament got under way.

“I will be back on the court soon,” Caldwell said.

LSU’s appearance in the NCAA tournament is its 21st of all-time and the first since 2010.

LSU senior forward LaSondra Barrett fires a shot during a game this season.

LSU SPORTS