Kentucky WBB Introduces New Head Coach Kenny Brooks

Read Time:3 Minute, 38 Second

On Tuesday morning Viginia Tech put out a press release that Kenny Brooks their women’s basketball head coach had accepted an offer to become the Women’s Kentucky Wildcats new head coach. Tons of excitement has filled the program over the last couple of days.

#BBN, Coach Brooks’ introductory press conference will be live streamed tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET on https://t.co/Gq4IeqxpQu and on our X and Facebook pages. 📲 pic.twitter.com/Qchprkd8mk
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) March 27, 2024

Brooks arrives in Lexington after serving eight seasons as the head coach at Virginia Tech. Under his guidance, the Hokies enjoyed eight consecutive winning seasons (2017-24) and made four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2021-24). He also produced a record amount of ACC win totals, ranked wins and postseason accolades. He led Virginia Tech to the 2023 NCAA Final Four and won the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship.

He has compiled a 517-204 (.717) career record through 22 seasons as a head coach, Brooks has achieved five Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles, four CAA regular-season titles, one ACC Tournament title, one ACC regular-season title, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four.

Battle tested. 🛠️

Read more » https://t.co/QNij2Mwx1X pic.twitter.com/X61fjwLm5x
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) March 28, 2024

Brooks was a four-year letterman for James Madison, playing for Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell. He was twice named a team captain, finishing his career with 606 points, 216 assists and 128 rebounds in 107 games.

He began his career as a coach as a men’s basketball assistant before joining his alma-mater James Madison as an assistant coach on the women’s team. Once there he quickly became the interim head coach and never looked back. He has 20-win seasons in his last 19 seasons as coach. The lone exception was the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season in which his Virginia Tech team finished 15-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He has coached seven conference Players of the Year in his career.

BROOKS IN THE BLUEGRASS: 🧵A look at Kenny Brooks' head coaching record through the years 🏀 pic.twitter.com/igm4bMmK1X
— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) March 26, 2024

Coach Brooks was impressive during his introductory press conference. In attendance today for the press conference who are on the active roster for next season were Brooklynn Miles, Saniah Tyler, Jordy Griggs, Cassidy Rowe and Amiya Jenkins. Also three of the five players who have entered the transfer portal were in attendance as well, Eniya Russell, Nyah Leveretter, and Janae Walker. Coach spoke directly to them on more than one occasion during his press conference.

Details of Coach Kenny Brooks new contract have come out today. Brooks has signed a 5-year 7.7 million dollar deal with Kentucky. That is a significant investment by the University into the women’s basketball program. By average that would be 1.55 million a year and would be the seventh highest paid coach in the country and the third highest in the SEC. Only Dawn Staley of South Carolina (3.1 Million) and Kim Mulkey (3.26 million) of LSU would make more.

Look at how many folks were at Kenny Brooks' press conference.

These are exciting times, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/lnjnSvGGJs
— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) March 28, 2024

There is no doubt with the brand new renovation of Memorial Coliseum and this hiring of Coach Brooks that Kentucky is investing into the women’s basketball program. Now the roster construction and player meetings begins. In the new landscape with the transfer portal immediately available it will be interesting to see how the roster develops for next season. With the excitement surrounding Coach Brooks, now is the time to buy in.

new episode:College SpotsCast GameDay Pick_em NCAA Sweet 16 Special S2@KentuckyWBB Hires Va Tech’s Kenny Brooks-Head Coach

All #Sweet16 games #MarchMadness #WBB Breakdown/Picks

UK Calipari returns@CSCast_ @CSCastJ @JasonJeharrison @GreenvillSMedia https://t.co/5kVD7wy6JD
— Brad Harvey (@BradCSCast) March 27, 2024