1 - University of Kentucky Athletics

The Mitchell Family (left to right): Jenna, Matthew and Lacy Mitchell
with Mitchell and assistants Niya Butts and Pam Stackhouse, DeMoss went
about the business of executing that blueprint almost immediately, leading
the Wildcats into postseason play in each of her final three seasons in Lexington.
DeMoss’ four seasons at the helm provided one glorious moment after
another, most notably the upset that rocked college basketball when the
Wildcats defeated top-ranked Tennessee in January of 2006. Later that
spring, DeMoss led Kentucky to its first NCAA tournament since 1999. So
when DeMoss resigned on April 11 and buzz around the Bluegrass quickly
shifted to her replacement, Barnhart needed to look no further than 60 miles
East on Interstate 64, where Mitchell had already established himself as an
up-and-coming head coach at in-state OVC school Morehead State.
When Barnhart interviewed Mitchell, the 36-year-old coach was fresh off
two tremendous campaigns in which he had revived a declining Lady Eagles
women’s basketball program with a 30-29 record (.508) at Morehead - the
third-highest winning percentage in school history. The Lady Eagles were
coming off a 5-22 record a year prior to Mitchell’s arrival and charged to a 16-
13 overall mark and 11-9 league record in his first season. The
Lady Eagles also reached the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference
Tournament.
In his second season, Mitchell guided Morehead to a thirdplace
finish in the league with a school-record 13 conference
wins. During the season, the Lady Eagles strung together a ninegame
winning streak, the program's longest in 20 seasons.
Mitchell’s two-year MSU conference record of 24-16 (.600)
marks the second-highest OVC winning percentage in school
history. He was only the third coach in the program’s history to
post an overall winning record during his tenure.
Barnhart also was impressed with Mitchell’s coaching pedigree.
He had served as an assistant coach and recruiter at Florida
under Carol Ross beginning in 2000. He helped the Gators
compile a 51-36 record and during his first two seasons the
Gators recorded a 19-9 league record en route to two NCAA
Tournament (2001 and 2002) appearances. With Mitchell's
help, the Gators had a program-tying 24 wins and tied the
school record with 11 SEC wins in 2001. He then served under
new UF Coach Carolyn Peck during the 2002-03 season. As the
primary recruiter at UF, Mitchell brought in the nation’s ninthranked
recruiting class in 2002 and the No. 2-ranked class by
All-Star Girls Report in 2003.
The Louisville, Miss. native began his collegiate coaching
career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee under Hall of Fame
Coach Pat Summitt during the Lady Vols' run to the Final Four
in 2000. UT advanced to the national championship game before
losing to top-ranked Connecticut. The Lady Vols finished No. 2 in
the national polls with a 33-4 overall record and a 13-1 mark in the SEC.
Prior to his stint at Tennessee, Mitchell spent one year in Yazoo City,
Miss., as a coach and teacher at Manchester Academy. He taught American
history and served as both the boys' and girls' head basketball coach.
A 1995 graduate of Mississippi State, Mitchell’s first head-coaching experience
came in 1996 at Central Holmes Academy High School in Lexington,
Miss. Mitchell performed multiple duties at the school, including head coach
of both basketball teams and also the track and golf teams. He also served as
the defensive coordinator for the football team.
As the much-anticipated 2007-08 season approaches, Barnhart reveals
that he is greatly impressed by the energy and vision of the one-time Kentucky
assistant. It is also Mitchell’s infectious enthusiasm and his innate leadership
qualities that stamped him as the next UK head coach, Barnhart says.
When asked about his goals for the upcoming season, Mitchell speaks
plainly. “The goal is the same every season and it always will be because it’s the
only season this team will ever have,” Mitchell said. “This is the only time this
particular group of players will play together. We’re going to try to be the best
team in the country this year, and that’s going to be our goal every year.”
When he talks about long-term goals, or about what that phenomenal
recruiting class of 2004 currently means to the program, Mitchell’s feelings
about his Kentucky family can scarcely be contained.
“The seniors are a special group because they came here at a time in which
they had options to go to more established programs,” Mitchell says. “We
could not have ended up with a better group because they have really dedicated
themselves to Kentucky. They have played just a huge role on the court
and off the court. I think all four of them have fallen in love with Kentucky
and I think they’ll be a big part of our family for a long time. That’s really the
goal we started out with -- to make this a special place to play and a special
family to be a member of.”
As for his own family, Mitchell is married to Jenna Ramsey Mitchell of
Amelia Island, Fla., and has a daughter, Lacy Mitchell, of Madison, Miss.
Coaching Career
Year School Pos. Record
06-07 Morehead St. Head Coach 14-16
05-06 Morehead St. Head Coach 16-13
04-05 Kentucky Asst. Coach 18-16
03-04 Kentucky Asst. Coach 11-17
02-03 Florida Asst. Coach 9-19
01-02 Florida Asst. Coach 18-11
2000-01 Florida Asst. Coach 24-6
1999-00 Tennessee Grad. Asst. 33-4
Total Record as a Head Coach: 30-29, 24-16
Total Record as an Assistant Coach: 113-73
Total Overall Collegiate Record: 143-102
Personal
Full Name: Matthew Lamont Mitchell
Birthday: Dec. 16, 1970
Parents: John D. and Carol Mitchell
Siblings: Three brothers - David, Mark, Stephen;
two nieces, and five nephews
Spouse: Wife, Jenna Ramsey Mitchell
Children: Daughter, Lacy Mitchell
Hometown: Louisville, Miss.
High School: Winston Academy, ‘89
College: Mississippi State, ‘95
Degree: Bachelor’s degree in marketing
75 • 2007-08 Women’s Basketball