Kentucky names Kyra Elzy Women's Basketball head coach, removes interim tag

(UK Athletics | Eddie Justice)

After a 6-0 start and a Top 10 AP ranking, Mitch Barnhart decided he had seen enough. This afternoon, Barnhart removed the interim tag from Kyra Elzy’s title and named her the new head coach of the Kentucky Women’s Basketball program.

“A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of introducing Kyra Elzy as our interim head women’s basketball coach,” Barnhart said on a Zoom with reporters. “Circumstances at that point in time were turning quick and had not allowed Kyra and I the opportunity to talk about her plans, her style, her leadership of our program. Although I felt we would get there I wanted to have a little bit of conversation for both our benefits to make sure there was alignment in making sure we had the University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball program in the right spot as we both thought about it together. Kyra has earned and deserved the opportunity to lead this program into the future.”

“I really appreciate the opportunity to be the new head coach at the University of Kentucky,” Elzy said. “This is a big responsibility. I am ready for the moment. Thank you to Coach [Matthew] Mitchell for empowering me and giving me the confidence and wings to soar. We hope to make you proud. This year is for you, Coach. Our players and staff will continue to live by the core values of Kentucky Women’s Basketball, which will be family, hard work, discipline, accountability, and servant leadership. We will put a team on the floor that you are proud of. Big Blue Nation, I’ve said it before. I will give you my all along with this staff.”

Elzy was named interim coach on November 12 following Matthew Mitchell’s decision to retire from coaching. A Kentucky native and two-time national champion at Tennessee, Elzy has spent time on both UK and Tennessee’s staffs as an assistant and associate head coach, returning to Lexington in 2016.

Yesterday, the women notched their sixth win of the season, an 88-54 victory over Samford. On Wednesday, they’ll travel to Chicago to face No. 24 DePaul.

Congrats, Kyra!