Kentucky Women's Basketball Coach Staying Put After Virginia Offer

Kenny Brooks declines job at Virginia to remain with the Wildcats.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:52pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a women's basketball game, with sharp planes of blue, white, and gold representing the dynamic energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team's recent success, reflecting the program's rising stature under Coach Kenny Brooks.Lexington Today

Kentucky women's basketball head coach Kenny Brooks has turned down an offer to become the new head coach at the University of Virginia, opting instead to remain with the Wildcats. Brooks, who has led Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons with the program, was pursued by Virginia after they parted ways with their previous coach.

Why it matters

Brooks' decision to stay at Kentucky is a major boost for the Wildcats' women's basketball program, which has seen a resurgence under his leadership. His ability to attract top talent and guide the team to tournament success has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in the country.

The details

After two successful seasons at Kentucky, where he led the team to the NCAA Tournament and Sweet 16, Brooks was offered the head coaching job at the University of Virginia. However, Brooks ultimately decided to remain in Lexington, turning down the Cavaliers' offer. Brooks had previously spent 14 seasons as the head coach at James Madison University, where he built the program into an NCAA Tournament regular, before taking the job at Virginia Tech and leading them to the Final Four in 2023.

  • Brooks was offered the Virginia job over the weekend.
  • By Tuesday, Brooks had declined the offer and Virginia had already hired someone else.

The players

Kenny Brooks

The head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, who has led the program to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons.

University of Virginia

The school that offered Brooks their head coaching job, which he ultimately declined in order to remain at Kentucky.

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The takeaway

Brooks' decision to remain at Kentucky is a major win for the Wildcats' program, as he has quickly established himself as one of the top coaches in women's college basketball. His ability to attract top talent and lead teams to tournament success makes him a highly coveted commodity, and Kentucky will look to build on its recent success with Brooks at the helm.