Kentucky WBB targeting Virginia Tech's Kenny Brooks as head coach

The Kentucky women’s basketball coaching search appears to be nearing an end.

According to KSR’s Matt Jones, the Wildcats are targeting Virginia Tech’s Kenny Brooks as the program’s next head coach. Brooks has been offered the job and now UK is waiting to see if he will accept or not.

“Sources tell KSR that Kentucky is targeting Virginia Tech’s Kenny Brooks to be its next Women’s Basketball Coach,” Jones wrote. “An offer has been made and the question now is only if he accepts.”

Brooks and Virginia Tech were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32 by Baylor on Sunday. If he were to accept the position, he would replace Kyra Elzy, who was let go earlier this month after a four-year run in Lexington that saw her post an overall record of 61-60 (23-40 SEC).

Sources tell KSR that Kentucky is targeting Virginia Tech’s Kenny Brooks to be its next Women’s Basketball Coach. An offer has been made and the question now is only if he accepts

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 26, 2024

Brooks, 55, has been viewed as the frontrunner to take the Kentucky job for several days now. Jones was the first to publicly list Brooks as a possible candidate last week, which was soon corroborated by other outlets. Now that his 2023-24 season is officially in the books, Kentucky appears to be making its closing move.

If UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart is able to bring in Brooks, it would undoubtedly be a grand slam hire for the program. Brooks has over 20 years of head coaching experience at the Division I level, including a successful stint at James Madison before making the move to Virginia Tech.

During his eight seasons with the Hokies, Brooks took the program from being a WNIT regular to contending for Final Fours. He’s produced an overall record of 180-82 (76-60 ACC) while in Blacksburg, winning the ACC Tournament in 2023 and the ACC regular season title in 2024. Virginia Tech made the Final Four in 2023 for the first time in school history.