Houston women’s basketball to hire Matthew Mitchell

Published 8:19 pm Thursday, March 27, 2025

HOUSTON — Former Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell was hired Thursday as the women’s basketball coach at the University of Houston, athletic director Eddie Nuñez announced.

Mitchell, a three-time SEC coach of the year and winningest coach in Kentucky history, will be introduced at a noon press conference Tuesday at Fertitta Center.

Mitchell received a five-year deal that will pay at least $600,000 annually, a source said.

“I am incredibly excited and deeply grateful for the opportunity to become the women’s basketball head coach at the University of Houston,” Mitchell said in a statement. “This is a true honor — stepping into this role in a city with such a rich basketball history. I want to begin by extending my heartfelt thanks to President Renu Khator and Eddie Nuñez for their belief in me to elevate this program to compete at the highest level in the country. Their trust in me means the world, and I’m eager to begin this journey alongside them.”

Mitchell, 54, won 303 games and made nine NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons at Kentucky — including three trips to the Elite Eight — before stepping down due to health issues in 2020.

Mitchell inherited a Kentucky program that went 16 — 16 overall and by his second season led the Wildcats to a 28-8 record.

During the 2011-12 season, Mitchell led Kentucky to its first SEC regular-season championship in more than 30 years and was named SEC Coach of the Year as the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight.

At Kentucky, Mitchell coached five SEC Player of the Year winners, 21 All-SEC honorees and produced six WNBA draft picks, including Rhyne Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Mitchell and his family to the University of Houston,” Nuñez said in a statement. “I am fully confident that Coach will build a nationally competitive basketball program composed of outstanding young women who will be proud to wear the Cougar uniform, who will earn their degrees and who will be wonderful representatives of the University in the community. He has a tremendous track record of success at every step in his career and leads with high character and integrity.

“Our Women’s Basketball program is in great hands and with continued support, we will soon be competing for championships!”

Only 49 at the time, Mitchell announced his retirement following months of recovery from a concussion he suffered on a family vacation to Mexico in 2020.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Mitchell 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. Tennessee advanced to the national championship game before losing to top-ranked UConn.

After serving as an assistant coach at Florida and Kentucky, Mitchell was head coach at Morehead State for two seasons before experiencing instant success with 10 straight postseason appearances in a return to Lexington.

Mitchell replaces Ronald Hughey, who stepped down earlier this month after 11 seasons.