‘I gave Kentucky all of me!’ Kyra Elzy says goodbye to Big Blue Nation.
Kyra Elzy is grateful for her time as head coach of Kentucky women’s basketball.
Elzy, who was let go last week after four seasons leading the Wildcats, issued her first public statement since the change on Tuesday via social media. In it, she expressed both gratitude for those who worked with and around her during those four seasons, the support from the fan base and the opportunity to lead the flagship program of her home state.
“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 a 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 this 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.”
Elzy, an Oldham County graduate turned two-time national champion player with Tennessee, began her coaching career as an assistant at Western Kentucky from 2002-04. From there, she served as an assistant at Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, including associate head coaching positions with the Lady Vols (2015-16) and the Wildcats (2010-12, 2016-20) prior to her promotion to interim head coach — and quick ascension to permanent head coach — in 2020.
Elzy’s Kentucky coaching career was highlighted by the 2022 SEC Tournament championship, the program’s second-ever and first since 1982, an upset-filled tear where the No. 7 Wildcats defeated No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Tennessee and 2022 national champion South Carolina.
After struggling to build upon that momentum and finishing 24-39 (6-26) over the past two seasons, athletics director Mitch Barnhart “felt like we needed to do something a little bit different.”
Through good and bad, Elzy’s pride in the program and state remained a constant. Elzy’s tenure ends upon the conclusion of the team’s 50th anniversary at varsity status and, following the Wildcats’ victory over Florida on Alumni Day — which brought more than 50 alumnae home to Lexington to celebrate the history of Kentucky women’s basketball — Elzy spoke to what being a part of the tradition meant to her.
“Kentucky has been the stop. ... I’ve been in a lot of schools in my 23 years of coaching, but Kentucky had always been special,” Elzy said. “There was something about this place. Learned so much from Coach (Matthew) Mitchell and the staff here. But he really helped me become who I am today as a coach, gave me a lot of responsibility, taught me along the way.
“He’s still on speed dial now as a lifeline when I call him in the middle of the night, like ‘Now, where is this in the head coaching manual?’ And oh, how the roles have reversed. So now he’s sending me scriptures and pep talks, what I used to do to him when he was sitting in the chair. But a great mentor, but there’s been so many coaches, Coach (Sharon) Fanning, Coach Bernadette (Mattox), you know, Mickie DeMoss, so it just goes down the line of the history of this program.”
After announcing Elzy’s departure last week, Barnhart said a national search for a new head coach was underway.
The new coach will inherit a roster quickly looking for opportunities elsewhere after the opening of the NCAA transfer portal on Monday. Leading scorer Ajae Petty and freshman Janae Walker have announced their intentions to move on from Kentucky as has Zennia Thomas, who was dismissed from the team in January.
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