Matthew Mitchell named among potential candidates for Kentucky WBB job

On Monday morning, Mitch Barnhart and UK announced that Kyra Elzy will not be back next season as the head coach of the women’s basketball program. In the official UK press release, it was noted that “UK will begin a national search for a new head coach.” However, soon following Elzy’s firing, one of the potential candidates that surfaced was someone we all know all too well, Matthew Mitchell.

Mitchell was the head coach at Kentucky from 2007 up until 2020 before retiring following a health scare. For the longest time, it seemed like Mitchell was content with not being a coach, despite a few reports here and there. He was finally able to step away from the sidelines, relax, and spend time with his family.

However, Lindsay Schnell, a reporter for USA TODAY Sports, mentioned that Kentucky was “expected to hire Matthew Mitchell again” in a short post on X/Twitter. However, Schnell clarified in a later post that Mitchell to UK wasn’t a done deal.

Let me clarify, because I did not mean for this to sound like a done deal (& sorry for the delay between tweets, I was on deadline!)

Mitchell wants the job. This is not a secret. A month ago, I was told UK wanted him too. But now I’m hearing UK is open to other possibilities 1/2 https://t.co/qAoq3ymjaT

— Lindsay Schnell (@Lindsay_Schnell) March 11, 2024

Of course, Mitchell isn’t the only potential candidate out there, so let’s crack down on some more names.

Juli Fulks (Transylvania)

We start with (arguably) the best coach in the Bluegrass, Juli Fulks out of Transylvania. Even though she’s currently at a Division III program, Fulks’ reign of dominance can’t simply just be glanced over. The 10-year head coach has led the Pioneers to 64 consecutive wins, and she even earned her 400th career win on Saturday as Transy beat Wisconsin-Whitewater to advance to the Final Four.

The question for Fulks isn’t her coaching ability — it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she’s got the X’s and O’s figured out. It’s a matter of bringing in SEC-caliber and high-profile recruits and transfers. However, if Mitch Barnhart is confident in Fulks’ ability to bring in quality assistants, then perhaps this “national search” may only be a trip down the road.

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Put your pitchforks down for a second. Let me explain.

Jeff Walz may be coaching the evil empire here in the state of Kentucky, but he has an incredible track record in his nearly two-decade stint in Louisville. Walz has won four ACC Regular Season Championships and one ACC Tournament Championship (2018) in his time coaching the Cards. Additionally, Walz has taken Louisville to places that the ‘Cats have never been before. He has taken Louisville to four Final Fours since 2009.

Of course, Walz hasn’t been perfect this season, saying egregious, out-of-line things at times. Additionally, as Matt Jones revealed on the KSR morning show, Walz and Barnhart aren’t exactly best buds.

It wasn’t too long ago that it seemed like Walz could be the next man up, but that seems like more of a long shot now.

Kim Stephens (Marshall)

Now, we’re getting into one of the more realistic potential candidates in Kim Stephens from Marshall. In just one season with the Thundering Herd, Stephens has led Marshall to a 26-6 (17-1 Sun Belt) record and a 2024 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship. Additionally, the Thundering Herd are on a 10-game winning streak. However, her success before Marshall is just as remarkable.

At Glenville State, Stephens led her squad to a 191-24 record, making the Division II NCAA Tournament in each of her seven seasons there. In 2022, Stephens led Glenville State to a Division II National Championship and then a Final Four the following year.

She’s Juli Fulks but with some Division I success as well.

Molly Miller (Grand Canyon)

For reasons not completely related to basketball, Molly Miller is a name that has surfaced as a potential candidate for the job on social media. Since 2021, Miller has been the head coach at GCU, going 85-34 during her time in the desert. This season, the Lopes are 24-7 (16-4 WAC), which is their best record under Miller. Like many of the other candidates on this list, Miller saw unprecedented success before taking the Division I stage.

At Drury, a Division II school in Springfield, Missouri, Miller went 180-17 while going 32-0 in 2020. In her six seasons at Drury, Miller won 30+ games four consecutive times. She has proven that she can build and develop Division I programs, and maybe Mitch Barnhart will give her a shot at rebuilding Kentucky.

Carly Thibault-DuDonnis (Fairfield)

Late Monday afternoon, a source told KSR that Fairfield’s Carly Thibault-DuDonnis was interested in potentially taking the Kentucky job.

A source tells KSR that Fairfield’s Carly Thibault-DuDonnis has expressed interest in the Kentucky WBB job.

She has led Fairfield to a 28-1 record this season with their only loss being a 3-point defeat to Vanderbilt.

Has P5 experience (Minnesota and Miss. St) in recruiting.

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) March 11, 2024

This season alone, Fairfield is 28-1 with their only loss coming to a much-improved Vanderbilt team on the road back in November. The Commodores escaped that one with a 73-70 win. Additionally, Fairfield is 25th in the AP Poll. The national recognition for Thibault-DuDonnis is there, and she is interested in taking the Kentucky job.

It’s just a matter of if she’s the best candidate at Barnhart’s disposal, but it sounds like she may not be.

Karl Smesko (FGCU)

That’s because of Karl Smesko, who has been at the helm at Florida Gulf Coast since they were Division II back in 2002. Aaron Gerhson of TheCatsPause first reported that Smesko is an official candidate for UK.

A source tells TCP that Florida Gulf Coast's Karl Smesko will be a candidate for the Kentucky Women's Basketball head coach opening.

Smesko and FGCU swept a home and home from Kentucky the last two seasons.

He is 449–83 at FGCU since the program moved to D1 in 2007.

— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) March 11, 2024

Under Smesko, FGCU has been absolutely dominant in the ASUN Conference. Since FGCU made the transition to Division I in 2007, The Eagles have won the ASUN 13 times total and six times in a row. In total, he has a 581-104 record down in Fort Myers. This season, FGCU is 27-4 (16-0 ASUN).

Additionally, the Eagles swept a home-and-home with Kentucky that took place over the course of the last two seasons. It would be nice to see him on the right side of the court for a change.