KY LEXINGTON Kentucky just had to travel a short distance across the state to select its newest women’s basketball coach: UK named Kenny Brooks to lead the program on Tuesday, Virginia Tech revealed in a press release. In his eight seasons in the same role with the Hokies, Brooks had a 180-82 (.687) record, with a 76-70 record in ACC play. However, over the last three seasons, Brooks and the Hokies have improved their play to a new level, winning 25 of the last 27 conference games at home and 75.9% (41-13) of their league games.
The goal of hiring Kenny in 2016 was to bring back the women’s basketball program at Virginia Tech, according to a statement from Whit Babcock, the athletics director. It goes without saying that Kenny, his employees, and the student-athletes fostered an excellent culture both on and off the court. He was a fantastic spokesperson of our department and university, as well as an amazing mentor to the young ladies in our women’s basketball team. We hope the upcoming phase of Kenny’s career is prosperous for him and his family.I continue to have faith in the direction of our women’s basketball program and believe that it has a bright future when combined with our resources, particularly NIL.
Kyra Elzy is replaced as Kentucky’s coach by Brooks. Elzy was fired by UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart on March 11. After leading Virginia Tech to its first-ever conference regular season title and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Brooks recently concluded a 25-8 campaign in 2023โ24. However, the team lost to Baylor, 75โ72, in Blacksburg, Virginia, to end a 26โgame home winning streak at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies’ hopes of making a long run in the tournament were severely damaged when they lost three-time ACC Player of the Year and standout center Elizabeth Kitley to an ACL injury sustained in the regular-season finale against Virginia in the 2022โ23 campaign. season, Virginia Tech advanced to its first-ever Final Four appearance after winning the ACC Tournament and defeating Louisville in the title game. In order to make its first-ever Final Four participation in program history, Virginia Tech defeated Louisville in the championship game of the 2022โ2023 ACC Tournament.
In his 22 seasons as a collegiate coach, Brooks has won over 500 games and has a 517-204 (.717) overall record. He was the head coach of James Madison for 14 seasons (2002โ03โ2015โ16) before taking over at Virginia Tech. With the Dukes, Brooks went 337-122 (.734) and was invited to six NCAA Tournaments. Under Brooks’ leadership, James Madison won five conference tournament titles and four regular-season championships in the Colonial Athletic Association (now known as the Coastal Athletic Association). A three-year player for the Dukes under Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell, Brooks attended James Madison. In 1993โ94, Brooks started his coaching career as a part-time assistant with the men’s team at James Madison, which went on to win the CAA Tournament and hit a Big Dancing ticket, He worked as an assistant coach for the Virginia Military Institute men’s team for four seasons (1994โ1998) before rejoining James Madison’s menโs squad in 1998 and staying there until 2002.On December 6, 2002, he was appointed JMU’s head women’s coach, albeit temporarily. Three months later, the temporary tag was taken off.
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