Matthew Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Matthew LaMont Mitchell is the current head coach for the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
team, also known as "UK Hoops".
. Prior to becoming the coach at Kentucky, Mitchell spent two years as the head coach at Morehead State
. Mitchell started his coaching career as graduate assistant under Pat Summitt
at Tennessee
, and he also spent time as an assistant coach at Florida
and Kentucky before becoming a head coach.
Following the 2009-10 season
, Mitchell was named the SEC Coach of the Year. In addition to Mitchell's recognition, Victoria Dunlap was named the SEC Player of the Year and A'dia Mathies was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. The Wildcats joined the unbeaten national champion 1998 Tennessee squad as the only teams in SEC women's basketball history to sweep the major post-season awards.
Mitchell's success on the court has already moved him up to No. 4 in all-time wins at Kentucky with 86. His winning percentage of 63.7 percent (86-49) ranks third.
Year Three proved to be the best year yet as Mitchell was named SEC Coach of the Year for his remarkable job in turning around a team that went 16-16 overall, 5-9 in conference play the year prior to a 28-8 overall record in 2009-10. The Cats' 28 overall wins, including 11 SEC wins were school records and UK finished second in the league despite being picked to finish 11th in the preseason polls.
from 1993–95, where he received a bachelor of science degree in marketing.
He is married to the former Jenna Ramsey, and he has two daughters, Lacy and Saylor.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represent the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference, which has historically been the most dominant conference in women's basketball. However, despite reaching national rankings as high as #4, the team has never reached the national...
team, also known as "UK Hoops".
Coaching
Mitchell became the head coach of UK on April 23, 2007, succeeding former UK coach Mickie DeMossMickie DeMoss
Mickie Faye DeMoss is an American college basketball coach and former player. She is the former women's head coach at the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky, and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee.-Early years:DeMoss was born in Delhi, Louisiana...
. Prior to becoming the coach at Kentucky, Mitchell spent two years as the head coach at Morehead State
Morehead State University
Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S...
. Mitchell started his coaching career as graduate assistant under Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
at Tennessee
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
, and he also spent time as an assistant coach at Florida
Florida Gators women's basketball
The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference...
and Kentucky before becoming a head coach.
Following the 2009-10 season
2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season...
, Mitchell was named the SEC Coach of the Year. In addition to Mitchell's recognition, Victoria Dunlap was named the SEC Player of the Year and A'dia Mathies was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. The Wildcats joined the unbeaten national champion 1998 Tennessee squad as the only teams in SEC women's basketball history to sweep the major post-season awards.
Mitchell's success on the court has already moved him up to No. 4 in all-time wins at Kentucky with 86. His winning percentage of 63.7 percent (86-49) ranks third.
Year Three proved to be the best year yet as Mitchell was named SEC Coach of the Year for his remarkable job in turning around a team that went 16-16 overall, 5-9 in conference play the year prior to a 28-8 overall record in 2009-10. The Cats' 28 overall wins, including 11 SEC wins were school records and UK finished second in the league despite being picked to finish 11th in the preseason polls.
Head coaching record
Personal
Mitchell attended Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
from 1993–95, where he received a bachelor of science degree in marketing.
He is married to the former Jenna Ramsey, and he has two daughters, Lacy and Saylor.