Matthew Mitchell retires after 13 seasons with Wildcats

14 hours in the past
Kentucky Athletics

Picture: Kentucky Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Matthew Mitchell, the winningest head coach in Kentucky girls’s basketball historical past with over 300 wins, introduced Thursday that he has retired from teaching, thus resigning as head coach of the Wildcats. UK director of athletics Mitch Barnhart has named affiliate head coach Kyra Elzy as interim head coach, efficient instantly.

Mitchell retires with a profession report of 333-162, together with a 303-133 mark at Kentucky. That is the primary head teaching place for Elzy, who has served as a NCAA assistant coach since 2002, together with affiliate head coach titles at Kentucky and Tennessee.

Barnhart and Elzy will maintain a information convention Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Assertion from Matthew Mitchell

“After a lot dialog with my household and Mr. Barnhart, I’ve determined to retire from teaching and successfully have resigned as head coach at Kentucky. This was a tough resolution and I do know the timing is just not excellent, however I don’t really feel I may give the job what it requires presently. As has been a lot publicized, I’ve had an eventful offseason with my damage and subsequent surgical procedure. I’ve been open about the truth that the surgical procedure and restoration course of has been life-altering for me and my household. By way of that, my priorities in the direction of my household and my religion has grown even bigger than earlier than and that has led me to make this resolution. Though a lot about right this moment is unhappy as a result of I’ll enormously miss the relationships and those that have consistently lifted up my household and me the final 13 years, I’m resolute in my resolution and comfy with starting the following chapter of my life. To the present gamers, thanks for all of the assist and love you have got proven me, not solely this 12 months, however in years previous. Every certainly one of you has actually left an enduring affect on me and I’ll cherish our time collectively. To my former gamers, assistant coaches and assist employees – every certainly one of you has made me a greater individual and I’ll all the time prolong a listening ear and inspiring phrase everytime you want it. I’d be remiss if I additionally didn’t thank Mr. Barnhart, Lee T. Todd and Eli Capilouto for his or her dedication and assist to girls’s basketball at Kentucky and giving me an opportunity a few years in the past to be part of this nice college. To Huge Blue Nation, 13 years in the past you welcomed me and my household with open arms and Jenna and I are perpetually grateful. Kentucky is our dwelling and this college and group are superbly distinctive and particular and we’re so blessed to have this place in our lives. Lastly, I wish to thank Kyra Elzy, Niya Butts, Amber Smith, Amy Tilley and everybody in our present assist employees for all of their laborious work this offseason and preseason as this system navigated uncharted waters. I consider with each ounce of my coronary heart that the best place for a younger girl to go to school and develop into a greater individual able to face what society has in retailer is on the College of Kentucky. I’m steadfast in that perception as a result of I do know the folks on this program spend each second of day by day centered on the right way to make different’s lives higher. Kyra has finished an incredible job main this system these previous few months. She is likely one of the greatest coaches in faculty basketball and has displayed that all through her profession as a top-notch tactician, elite recruiter, and most of all, she is of the best character. I’ve the utmost confidence in her to steer Kentucky girls’s basketball into future success.”

Assertion for Mitch Barnhart on Matthew Mitchell

“As our all-time winningest coach, Matthew Mitchell led us by so lots of the nice moments within the historical past of Kentucky basketball, with greater than 300 wins, an SEC championship and quite a few NCAA Match appearances. He has been an important ambassador for the College of Kentucky, on and off the court docket, bringing an vitality and elegance of play that made it enjoyable for gamers and followers alike. As well as, Matthew and Jenna have woven themselves into the material of the group with an incredible generosity of time, treasure and spirit. Matthew, Jenna and their kids all the time shall be a part of the Wildcat household and we want them the perfect as they enter the following stage of their lives.”

Assertion from Interim Head Coach Kyra Elzy

“Coach Mitchell means a lot to me and I owe him an infinite quantity of gratitude for his steerage all through my teaching profession. This isn’t a simple day for any of us as we come to grips along with his resolution to retire. My fast focus is on our gamers and ensuring that they’re coping with this variation that has occurred so abruptly. As you possibly can perceive, this has been tough for them to course of. We met with the gamers and their households this night and ensured them that this program will stand on the identical rules shifting ahead. I wish to thank Mr. Barnhart, President Capilouto and our administration for trusting me because the interim head coach. Coach Mitchell has set this program on a path for distinguished success, and as interim head coach, I promise that our employees will work tirelessly to ensure this system continues to construct upon the success that Coach Mitchell has had at Kentucky.”

Assertion from Mitch Barnhart on Kyra Elzy

“Kyra has been alongside Matthew for a lot of the success we have had and she or he is a confirmed instructor, chief and recruiter. We sit up for spending extra time together with her as she additional develops her fashion and philosophy whereas main us into the following chapter of Kentucky basketball.”

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