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Former Kentucky women’s coach Kyra Elzy broke her silence about her dismissal by UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart on Tuesday in a post on social media.
Elzy was Kentucky’s coach for four seasons and in 2022 her team beat No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Tennessee and No. 1 South Carolina to win UK’s first SEC Tournament title in 40 years. However, after winning three SEC games in one week, Kentucky won just six of 32 conference games the last two seasons.
Here is the statement Elzy posted to say farewell to UK fans and others:
“As I embark on a new chapter in my life, I would be remiss not to reflect upon and be thankful for my journey. As I’ve had time to reflect, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that Kentucky was the stop that helped me grow as a woman and as a coach. Through the triumphs and defeats, I gave Kentucky all of me!
“I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity to be the head coach at UK. I’m a proud Kentucky girl through and through, and this place and all of the people and players will always hold a special place in my heart.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all the players (past and present), coaches, support staff and everyone who poured into the program. At the end of the day, I understand that winning is the name of the game in his business. I will win again, that’s the competitor in me.
“I’m also a woman of faith. I know God always has a plan. For only He can open and close doors. I will continue to walk in God’s purpose. I’m built to last. Thank you Big Blue Nation for your love and support for this Kentucky girl. This chapter of my life is closing but a new one awaits.”
Barnhart has not announced who UK’s new coach will be but Ajae Petty and Maddie Scherr, the top two players on UK’s team last season, have both put their name into the transfer portal along with freshman Janae Walker. Sophomore Zennia Thomas, who was dismissed from the team during the season, also put her name into the transfer portal.
One Response
Coach KYRA—Best of luck to you in your coaching career and all of your future endeavors…..Wish you had had the privilege of working for an athletic program that provided more support, time, and resources to your program and your sport. Of all schools to NOT provide the needed support to a BASKETBALL PROGRAM–leave it to the University of Kentucky to not provide it–or should I say the University of CAL-TUCKY instead? Maybe if all the funds weren’t tied up for someone’s lifetime contract we would be able to provide more of the resources and support for our women’s bball program that we SHOULD! It has always amazed me the lack of support, from both administration and fans, for our women’s BBALL program, while we claim to be a "BASKETBALL SCHOOL"!!! Well, shouldn’t the ladies be included in that as well? Can’t we at least do for them what we managed to do for the football program, and make them relevant and at least competitive in the SEC? I know there is only so much money that can go around–but I think the admin can do better for the women’s bball program. And now he has the opportunity to actually make a national coaching search–but is he really going to do that? He’ll probably take the easy way out like always and bring back Mitchell. Every time there is an opportunity to make a fresh start in one of our sports programs, it just seems like Little Mitch totally blows it. I think he is so scared to death of any failure or anything coming back on his legacy that he dosnt have the cajones to take some chances with his coaching hires and try to go after a big name or at least just a solid name. Nothing against Mitchell personally, but I don’t think that’s the answer long-term, and I don’t think bringing back any former coach is ever a good idea for any sport. Again, u don’t get a lot of opportunities to start fresh like this, so never a better time to go after a new up-and-comer, someone who is young and has fresh energy and enthusiasm. Someone who can be a players’ coach. Like I said, Kyra probably wasn’t the answer long-term either–again, I think it’s time to break all ties from that Mitchell era–which that actually goes back all the way to the Mickie DeMoss days 20 yrs ago, so long past time to make a fresh start and go forward, but so much more should be and can be done from an athletic admin standpoint to upgrade that women’s program–like I said, at least do for them what was done for football! Oh how I wish this fresh coaching start could be had for the other basketball program as well!!! But hey, Coach Kyra, thank you for your time and we appreciate you for embracing your roots from the state of KY, and your love for the state and the BBN, we love u for that and love u for having Blue Blood, and we love you for embracing and acknowledging your faith and trust in GOD. At the end of the day, we know that you love GOD, and know that u love UK and the fans for what we are, and that’s a hell of a lot more than can be said for the one occupying the spot for the men’s bball team. And u also at least managed to accomplish in three short years what the men’s coach hasn’t been able to accomplish in 7: win an SEC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!