Matthew Mitchell announces surprise retirement from coaching

Matthew Mitchell stepped down from his job as the head coach of Kentucky’s Women’s Basketball. The news is a shock to Big Blue Nation as the 49-year-old Mitchell announced his retirement only weeks before his 11th-ranked Wildcats tip off a potentially special season.

Mitchell gave this statement Thursday night:

“After much conversation with my family and Mr. Barnhart, I have decided to retire from coaching and effectively have resigned as head coach at Kentucky. This was a difficult decision and I know the timing is not ideal, but I do not feel I can give the job what it requires at this time.

As has been much publicized, I have had an eventful offseason with my injury and subsequent surgery. I have been open about the fact that the surgery and recovery process has been life-altering for me and my family. Through that, my priorities towards my family and my faith has grown even larger than before and that has led me to make this decision. Although so much about today is sad because I will greatly miss the relationships and people that have constantly lifted up my family and me the last 13 years, I am resolute in my decision and comfortable with beginning the next chapter of my life.

To the current players, thank you for all the support and love you have shown me, not only this year, but in years past. Each one of you has truly left a lasting impact on me and I will cherish our time together.

To my former players, assistant coaches and support staff – each one of you has made me a better person and I will always extend a listening ear and encouraging word whenever you need it.

I would be remiss if I also did not thank Mr. Barnhart, Lee T. Todd and Eli Capilouto for their commitment and support to women’s basketball at Kentucky and giving me a chance many years ago to be a part of this great university.

To Big Blue Nation, 13 years ago you welcomed me and my family with open arms and Jenna and I are forever grateful. Kentucky is our home and this university and community are beautifully unique and special and we are so blessed to have this place in our lives.

Finally, I want to thank Kyra Elzy, Niya Butts, Amber Smith, Amy Tilley and everyone in our current support staff for all of their hard work this offseason and preseason as the program navigated uncharted waters. I believe with every ounce of my heart that the greatest place for a young woman to go to college and become a better person ready to face what society has in store is at the University of Kentucky. I am steadfast in that belief because I know the people in this program spend every second of every day focused on how to make other’s lives better. Kyra has done an amazing job leading the program these past few months. She is one of the best coaches in college basketball and has displayed that throughout her career as a top-notch tactician, elite recruiter, and most of all, she is of the highest character. I have the utmost confidence in her to lead Kentucky women’s basketball into future success.”

Mitch Barnhart said:

“As our all-time winningest coach, Matthew Mitchell led us through so many of the great moments in the history of Kentucky basketball, with more than 300 wins, an SEC championship and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances. He has been a great ambassador for the University of Kentucky, on and off the court, bringing an energy and style of play that made it fun for players and fans alike. In addition, Matthew and Jenna have woven themselves into the fabric of the community with a tremendous generosity of time, treasure and spirit. Matthew, Jenna and their children always will be part of the Wildcat family and we wish them the very best as they enter the next stage of their lives.”

Barnhart and new interim head coach Kyra Elzy will hold a news conference Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

UPDATE: Tom Hart asked John Calipari about Mitchell’s retirement at the end of tonight’s Pro Day broadcast.

“Matthew Mitchell is one of the great guys of all time. During my time here, there are many times I was going into his gym watching them press and do stuff or going in to his office and we talked or he’d come into my office and we talked. The two teams were close. There was none of that, well, they get this, we get that.

“Look, every program here is treated first class and our women are and it’s because Matthew Mitchell took everything to another level. What he did here, how he did it, the kind of girls we have, the kind of women that are playing here. When he got hurt and I heard how kind of serious it was, I was really worried about him. He and I text back and forth and I texted him today and I knew this afternoon he was thinking about it and stuff. He’s — I just wish — I don’t know all the health stuff but I want him to be healthy and have fun. That’s what we trying to do.”

UPDATE 2: The women’s program just released this video honoring Mitchell.

Thank you, @UKCoachMitchell.

For the laughter, for your compassion, for your devotion, for your leadership and for the memories. pic.twitter.com/8RqnIT0Qkf

— Kentucky WBB (@KentuckyWBB) November 13, 2020