| Matthew Mitchell |
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 | Position: Head Coach
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 | Years at UK: 3rd Year
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Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell's teams are known for using three "winning
tools" for success: honesty, hard work and discipline. So it's no surprise
that in just two seasons, he has used these tools to build a program that is
quickly ascending back into the national spotlight and expects success each
and every year.
In
Mitchell's two seasons, the Wildcats have advanced to back-to-back postseason
tournaments, defeated four nationally-ranked teams, including upsets over perennial
powers Georgia and Tennessee, had six players receive All-SEC accolades, had
five SEC Academic Honor Roll members, one SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year,
and all six players in their final season of eligibility received their degree.
Mitchell became Kentucky's head coach on April 23, 2007 when he was hired
by Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. A whirlwind salesman, Mitchell presented
a vision of UK Hoops as a powerhouse program...and a warm and loving family.
His pitch has resonated with recruits and their families as he has signed one
of the top recruiting classes in the country for next season. UK's roster will
boast six highly touted freshmen to go along with three Division I-A transfers
and five returning players.
In his first season with the Wildcats, Mitchell led UK to a school-record
fourth consecutive postseason tournament. The Wildcats posted a 17-16 overall
record and finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference with an 8-6 mark,
just one win shy of the school record. The eight league wins were the most
conference wins by a first-year head coach in UK Hoops history. Mitchell also
became the first head coach in UK Hoops history to lead their team to the semifinals
of the SEC Tournament in their debut season. The Wildcats earned a first-round
bye and upset No. 23/21 Georgia in the quarterfinals (57-50) before falling
to the NCAA Final Four participant LSU in the semis. UK went on to defeat Middle
Tennessee and James Madison in the postseason WNIT before falling to eventual
champion Marquette in the quarterfinals, 69-64.
In Year Two, despite another tough schedule and injuries to key players throughout
the season, the Wildcats again advanced to postseason play with a second round
finish in the WNIT. It marked their school-record fifth consecutive postseason
tournament appearance. The Cats finished 16-16 overall, 5-9 in the SEC and
defeated No. 13/19 Tennessee in Memorial Coliseum, their first win over the
Lady Vols at home in 23 years. Mitchell also captured his 30th win at UK on
Feb. 5, 2009 vs. South Carolina. He did it in only 56 games, becoming the second-fastest
coach to reach 30 wins behind Terry Hall who earned it in only 38 games during
her first two seasons in 1980 and 1981.
Prior to Kentucky, Mitchell, known for his recruiting ability and enthusiasm,
compiled an overall record of 30-29 record (.508) at Morehead - the third-highest
winning percentage in school history. He did a remarkable job with the Lady
Eagles in a just a short amount of time. He helped them go from a 5-22 record
a year prior to his arrival to a 16-13 overall mark and 11-9 league record
in his first season. He also mentored the Lady Eagles to the semifinals of
the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
In his second season, Mitchell guided Morehead to a third-place finish in
the league with a school-record 13 conference wins. During the season, the
Lady Eagles strung together a nine- game winning streak, the school's longest
in 20 seasons.
His two-year conference record of 24-16 (.600) marks the second-highest OVC
winning percentage in school history. He was only the third coach in the history
of the program to post an overall winning record during his tenure.
Mitchell is no stranger to the SEC as he worked as the top assistant and recruiting
coordinator under former head coach Mickie DeMoss at Kentucky from 2003-05.
In addition to his tenure with DeMoss, Mitchell served as an assistant coach
for three more of the most recognized names in women's college basketball.
He joined the Kentucky staff after three years at Florida, where he spent two
seasons with Coach Carol Ross and one season with Coach Carolyn Peck. Prior
to that, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the legendary Hall of
Fame Coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee.
As
an assistant at UK, he was a key factor in the development and improvement
of UK's post players. Under his guidance, center Sarah Elliott ranked in the
top 10 in two Southeastern Conference rankings and was named to the SEC All-Freshman
team. Forward Jennifer Humphrey flourished under Mitchell's guidance, leading
the team in rebounding and ranking 15th in SEC rebounding. She went on to become
UK's second all-time leading rebounder. As the recruiting coordinator, Mitchell
also helped bring in the nation's sixth-ranked recruiting class in 2003-04
by the All-Star Girls Report.
Mitchell also served as an assistant coach and recruiter at Florida beginning
in 2000. He helped the Gators compile a 51-36 record and during his first two
seasons the Gators recorded a 19-9 league record en route to two NCAA Tournament
(2001 and 2002) appearances under Ross. With Mitchell's help, the Gators won
a program-tying best 24 games and tied the school record with 11 wins in the
SEC in 2001. He then served under Peck during the 2002-03 season. As the primary
recruiter at UF, Mitchell brought in the ninth-ranked recruiting class in 2002
and the No. 2-ranked class by All-Star Girls Report for the 2003 class.
The 38-year-old native of Louisville, Miss., was a graduate assistant at Tennessee
under Summitt during the Lady Vols' run to the Final Four in 2000. UT advanced
to the national championship game before losing to top-ranked Connecticut.
The Lady Vols finished at No. 2 in the national polls with a 33-4 overall record
and a 13-1 mark in the SEC.
Prior to Tennessee, Mitchell spent one year in Yazoo City, Miss., as a coach
and teacher at Manchester Academy. He taught American history and served as
both the boys' and girls' head basketball coach.
His first experience as a head coach came in 1996 when he took a job at Central
Holmes Academy in Lexington, Miss. Mitchell performed multiple duties as the
head coach of both basketball teams and also the football, track and golf teams.
Mitchell attended Mississippi State from 1993-95, where he received a bachelor
of science degree in marketing.
He has one daughter, Lacy Mitchell, of Madison, Miss., and is married to the
former Jenna Ramsey of Gainesville, Fla.
Mitchell Year-By-Year
| Year |
School |
Position |
Record |
| 2008-09 |
Kentucky |
Head Coach |
16-16, 5-9 SEC |
| 2007-08 |
Kentucky |
Head Coach |
17-16, 8-6 SEC |
| 2006-07 |
Morehead State |
Head Coach |
14-16, 13-7 OVC |
| 2005-06 |
Morehead State |
Head Coach |
16-13, 11-9 OVC |
| 2004-05 |
Kentucky |
Asst. Coach |
18-16 |
| 2003-04 |
Kentucky |
Asst. Coach |
11-17 |
| 2002-03 |
Florida |
Asst. Coach |
9-19 |
| 2001-02 |
Florida |
Asst. Coach |
18-11 |
| 2000-01 |
Florida |
Asst. Coach |
24-6 |
| 1999-00 |
Tennessee |
Grad. Asst. |
33-4 |
| Total Record as a Head Coach |
63-61 |
| Total Record as an Assistant Coach |
113-73 |
What They're Saying About Matthew Mitchell
"I
am excited for Matthew and for the program. Having worked with Matthew at Tennessee
and Kentucky, I know what he's capable of and he is very talented. I am confident
that he can continue guiding the program on the right track with his leadership.
Matthew's knowledge of the game, his communication skills, his relationships
with players, and his strong ability to recruit makes him the total package.
The players will respond well to him and he will be able to relate well to
the community. The Kentucky fan base will continue to grow under his leadership."
- Mickie DeMoss, former Kentucky women's basketball coach
"I'm so excited for Matthew. He made it clear to me at Tennessee that
he wanted to be involved in the women's game and I really enjoyed having him
on our staff. I know he enjoyed working with Coach DeMoss at Kentucky as an
assistant but I think it was good that he went away for his first head coaching
job. It's great to have him back in the league."
- Pat Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball coach
"Matthew Mitchell is a great hire for Kentucky. He can continue the great
tradition that Mickie DeMoss started there. He has similar qualities as Coach
DeMoss as he is out-going, has high energy and a positive attitude. He is not
only going to be great for Kentucky but for the SEC as well."
- Carol Ross, former Ole Miss women's basketball coach
"Watching Matthew as an assistant coach at Kentucky and Florida, I knew
it wouldn't be long until he became a head coach at a big-time program. It's
great to get a person with his energy, passion and knowledge of the game back
in the SEC."
- Dave Neal, play-by-play announcer for SEC women's college basketball
"Kentucky made a great hire by getting Matthew Mitchell back. He helped
Mickie DeMoss build the women's basketball program to where it is today. His
energy, love of the game, and love of the Kentucky program make him a great
choice."
- Lin Dunn - WNBA Indiana Fever head coach