Kentucky women's basketball names Virginia Tech's Kenny Brooks as new head coach

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky went just across the state line to find its newest women's basketball coach.

UK on Tuesday tabbed Kenny Brooks to guide the program, Virginia Tech announced in a news release. Brooks spent the past eight seasons in the same capacity with the Hokies, going 180-82 (.687), including a 76-70 mark in ACC play. But Brooks and the Hokies took their play to another level the past three seasons, winning 75.9% (41-13) of their league games and 25 of their last 27 conference contests at home.

"We hired Kenny in 2016 with the intent of revitalizing our women's basketball program," Virginia Tech athletics director Whit Babcock said in a statement. "Needless to say, Kenny, his staff and student-athletes created a culture of excellence on and off the court. He was an incredible mentor to the young women in our women's basketball program and a terrific representative of our department and university. We wish Kenny and his family well in this next chapter of his career. "I remain confident in the trajectory of our women's basketball program and when combined with our resources, specifically NIL, that the future of our women's basketball program is bright."

Brooks replaces Kyra Elzy as Kentucky's coach. UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart dismissed Elzy on March 11.

Brooks recently wrapped up a 25-8 campaign in 2023-24 that saw the Virginia Tech win the conference regular season title for the first time ever and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Baylor, 75-72, in Blacksburg, Virginia, to snap a 26-game home win streak at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies' hopes of another deep run in the tournament were dealt a severe blow when they lost superstar center Elizabeth Kitley, the three-time ACC Player of the Year, to an ACL injury suffered in the regular-season finale against Virginia.

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During the 2022-23 season, Virginia Tech won the ACC Tournament — beating Louisville in the championship game — en route to the first Final Four appearance in program history.

Brooks has won more than 500 games in 22 seasons as a college coach, owning an overall record of 517-204 (.717).

Prior to taking over at Virginia Tech, he led James Madison for 14 seasons (2002-03 through 2015-16). During his time with the Dukes, Brooks went 337-122 (.734), earning six NCAA Tournament bids. James Madison won four Colonial Athletic Association (now known as the Coastal Athletic Association) regular-season championships and five conference tournament crowns during Brooks' tenure.

A James Madison alum, Brooks played three seasons for the Dukes under Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell. Brooks began his coaching career as a part-time assistant with James Madison's men's team in 1993-94 — a club that won the CAA Tournament and punched a ticket to the Big Dance.

He spent four seasons (1994-98) as an assistant coach with the Virginia Military Institute men's team, then returned to James Madison's men's program from 1998 through 2002. He was named JMU's head women's coach on an interim basis on Dec. 6, 2002. The interim tag was removed three months later.

This story will be updated.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.