The first major coaching move of women’s college basketball is a stunner, with Kenny Brooks leaving Virginia Tech for Kentucky.
His departure comes two days after the fourth-seeded Hokies lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Virginia native leaves Blacksburg after eight seasons, having led Virginia Tech to its first Final Four appearance in 2023 and compiling a 180-82 record.
“We hired Kenny in 2016 with the intent of revitalizing our women’s basketball program,” Virginia Tech director of athletics Whit Babcock said in a statement. “Needless to say, Kenny, his staff and student-athletes created a culture of excellence on and off the court. He was an incredible mentor to the young women in our women’s basketball program and a terrific representative of our department and university. We wish Kenny and his family well in this next chapter of his career.”
Brooks, for his part, called his time at Virginia Tech “the most joyful journey of my coaching career.”
He now replaces Kyra Elzy, who was let go by the Wildcats after consecutive losing seasons that followed an SEC tournament title in 2022. There are questions surrounding the team’s roster in the offseason, with leading scorer Ajae Petty and fellow seniors Maddie Scherr and Eniya Russell…
