Kentucky hires ACC Power women's basketball coach to replace Kyra Elzy

The Kenny Brooks era of Kentucky women's basketball begins now.

Virginia Tech announced Tuesday morning that Brooks is leaving the Hokies to become head coach at UK, replacing Kyra Elzy. Great Britain Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart relieved Elzy of her duties on March 11.

Barnhart announced Brooks' hiring via press release Tuesday afternoon.

“We are very excited to bring Kenny Brooks to the University of Kentucky,” Barnhart said. “Kenny has a strong history of player development and championship performance at James Madison and Virginia Tech. When you combine his outstanding coaching skills with his vision for this program and his passion for getting us there, he is ideally suited to become the Wildcats' head coach. We look forward to introducing Kenny, (wife) Chrissy and their family to the Big Blue Nation!”

In the same press release, Brooks expressed his excitement about taking the job, thanked Virginia Tech for “the best journey of his coaching career” and thanked both Kentucky and UK Athletics for the opportunity.

“I am thrilled to be named head coach of the Kentucky women’s basketball program,” said Brooks. “From the Big Blue Nation and the breathtaking scenery of the Bluegrass State to the UK Athletics brand and participation in the Southeastern Conference, my family and I are excited for this new chapter in our lives. I would like to thank Virginia Tech for the most joyful journey of my coaching career and the University of Kentucky and the UK Athletics Administration for this new opportunity. I have no plans to waste my time building a positive atmosphere, a successful environment and a tenacious program that Big Blue Nation can be proud of.”

Brooks, 55, brings a career record of 517-204 (.717) to Kentucky in 22 seasons as a head coach.

Brooks, who served as the Hokies' head coach since 2016, led Virginia Tech to eight straight winning seasons, including the program's first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in 2023. The Hokies reached the Final Four last season as a No. 1 seed, defeating Chattanooga, South Dakota State, Tennessee and Ohio State before falling to eventual national champion LSU.

That season, the Hokies captured an ACC regular season title, but a torn ACL for three-time ACC Player of the Year and three-time All-American center Liz Kitley significantly hampered the Hokies' offensive production in the postseason, and Virginia Tech fell in the semifinals of the ACC tournament against eventual champion Notre Dame. Kitley was one of three Hokies under Brooks to earn All-America status, joining active guard Georgia Amoore and guard Aisha Sheppard, a 2022 WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces.

The Hokies have reached the NCAA Tournament every year since 2021 under Brooks, reaching the Round of 32 in 2021 and exiting in the Round of 64 in 2022 before appearing in the Final Four last year.

Brooks' final game at Virginia Tech was Sunday night's 75-72 loss to Baylor in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Brooks has coached seven WNBA draft picks, including 2008 first-round pick Tamera Young, who was selected by the Atlanta Dream before spending the majority of her career with the Chicago Sky.

Brooks received a three-year contract extension at the end of July 2023 following the Hokies' Final Four run. According to Virginia Tech Athletics, the extension, which was set to expire in March 2029, “included a six-year contract totaling $6.4 million and other improvements to support staff salaries, assistant coach salary pool, postseason bonuses and operating budget. “ .”

Following Virginia Tech's announcement on Tuesday that Brooks is transferring to Kentucky, The Athletic reported the details of the expected contract, explaining that UK will likely make Brooks the third-highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference behind LSU's Kim Mulkey ($3.15 million). $3.1 million per year will be Dawn Staley of South Carolina ($3.1 million per year).

Prior to Virginia Tech, Brooks was the head coach at James Madison, his alma mater, for 14 seasons – including six NCAA Tournament appearances – and is still considered the winningest coach in program history. He also served as an assistant coach for the men's programs at VMI (1994-98) and James Madison (1998-2002) before being named interim women's basketball coach at James Madison in December 2002. His interim title was removed at the end of 2002. March 2003.

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