Kyra Elzy inspirations:
a former member of uk’s women’s coaching staff returns to take the reins by larry vaught
“[Matthew Mitchell] sends me text messages. We talk. I am always looking to him for guidance. If I ask for advice, he gives it. He mainly just offers a lot of prayer and encouragement.” 38
photo courtesy UK Athletics She knew there would be surprises “when she moved over one season,” but Kyra Elzy credits an amazing staff from keeping her from being overwhelmed with her promotion from assistant coach to head coach at Kentucky. Matthew Mitchell, the winning head coach in Kentucky women’s basketball history, resigned in November, just before the season started. Elzy was named the interim coach and then the head coach. One of her unofficial advisors during her first season as head coach has been Mitchell. “He sends me text messages. We talk. I am always looking to him for guidance,” Elzy said. “If I ask for advice, he gives it. He mainly just offers a lot of prayer and encouragement. He tells me mainly just not to put pressure on myself. Don’t look ahead and be true to who I am. Lead in a manner to make sure kids believe in themselves and don’t overanalyze things.” Kentucky players certainly bought into Elzy’s leadership immediately. She
TOPS in Lexington | March 2021
by Larry