Matthew Mitchell coaching in red at Houston is very, very weird

Matthew Mitchell is a three-time SEC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Kentucky women’s basketball with 303 career victories leading the Wildcats. He bleeds blue through and through, known for his gritty teams, dance moves and getting after it with a microphone as the head man of the Coach Mitchell Band.

So, yeah, it’s gonna be a minute before anybody gets used to seeing him in red and black coaching up the Houston Cougars in the Big 12.

With summer workouts well underway across the college basketball landscape, we’re getting our first look at Coach Mitchell back on the floor with a whistle — just wearing the wrong colors.

“I am real grateful to be coaching the Coogs. Here we go,” he said in the mic’d up segment released by Houston WBB.

Mic'd up with Coach Mitchell 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HpEujFzk0J

— Houston Women's Basketball (@UHCougarWBB) July 8, 2025

Mitchell was hired back in March and officially introduced as head coach on April 1, fitting considering it feels like a joke on April Fools’ Day.

At the time, he made it clear that while his time representing Kentucky women’s basketball is over and he’s wearing red instead of blue, Lexington will always be home.

“We’ll never, ever leave Lexington with our hearts,” Mitchell told KSR after his move to Houston. “We have so many friends there, and the Kentucky fans have just treated us unbelievably well and supported us all those years. … We’re so grateful for our time there. This is just another little detour on life’s path. You never know where it’s going to go, but we are thrilled with this opportunity and excited for the adventure.

“… This is not goodbye, guys. This is just so long, farewell, just for a bit. It’s going to be a lot of fun. … Thanks to all of the Big Blue Nation — I love them and appreciate everything you guys have done. We will be around.”

Mitchell takes over a Houston program that has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2011 with no second-round appearances since 2004. The Cougars have never been to a Sweet 16 with just one conference tournament championship in ’04 and two regular season titles in ’04 and ’11.

He made the move to satisfy a starving fanbase, and he’s clearly the man for the job, leading Kentucky to 10 20-plus win seasons and seven 25-plus win seasons, along with five Sweet 16s and three Elite Eights.

Mitchell stepped away from the game in 2020 due to a serious health scare, but he’s back and better than ever. Meanwhile, his Wildcats are in good hands back in Lexington with Kenny Brooks leading the charge.

Doesn’t make it any easier seeing him in red.