Building a program came easy for Matthew Mitchell. Staying there has been harder than he imagined.
It took just three seasons for Mitchell to make Kentucky a relevant player in the Southeastern Conference and put the Wildcats on the map nationally. In the past seven seasons, Kentucky has made an unprecedented seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a run that has included at least 24 wins, including a school-record 30 victories three years ago. The current run includes three Elite Eight appearances.
“That’s a dynamic situation and I’ve learned a lot in terms of what we really want to do in recruiting and who we want to recruit,” Mitchell said. “That has taken time and that is a process that has happened. That doesn’t mean we’re going to bat .1000 but we need to bat better than what we’re batting now.”
Despite the team’s success and upgrade , staying atop the proverbial mountain has proved to be more of a difficult task than the hurdles it took for Mitchell to reach the pinnacle. From the outside looking in, it appeared Mitchell had the program primed to take the next step on the ladder of success.
Instead, turmoil was churning within the confines of the Joe Craft Center. The rise to national prominence hasn’t produced a tumble to the ground but has resulted in an implosion from within.
“There’s no doubt that the way things look today are not ultimately how we want them to look,” said Mitchell, who took full responsibility for his team’s recent “upheaval” during a press conference Wednesday at Memorial Coliseum. “All responsibility for what happens in the program falls on my shoulders 100 percent. I am responsible ultimately for the results that we get.”
The departure of three assistant coaches — Kyra Elzy, Shalon Pillow and Matt Insel — presented more issues than Mitchell imagined, considering it was Mitchell and those three assistant coaches who helped chart Kentucky’s climb to new heights.
“You think something is rolling along well and it’s going to keep rolling along well,” Mitchell said. “That’s a mistake that you make.”
Mitchell admitted the chemistry within the staff from 2008-12 resulted in the team’s success on and off the court. Although staff changes are commonplace, Mitchell will have three new faces on the sidelines next season, including Elzy, who was hired away from Tennessee to become associate head coach under Mitchell.
The loss of three assistants, two voluntarily within the past week, have raised eyebrows within the collegiate coaching circles, but Mitchell wasn’t alarmed and vowed to hire a staff reminiscent of his first one at Kentucky. Bringing back Elzy is the first step toward turning the team’s recent misfortunes around.
“We did not have the chemistry we needed to keep moving forward,” Mitchell said. “We will learn from where we made mistakes and ultimately where I have made mistakes. (The players) need to see some stability. The only person that can do that is me and I have to get that done. We have a plan (moving) forward and we’ve started that process with Kyra.”
Not only is Mitchell dealing with replacing an entire coaching staff, but the departure of eight players since last fall has raised questions about stability within the program. Mitchell admitted that each case was different but took share in the blame for the team’s roster turmoil that included the loss of one player and two future signees within the past seven days.
“We have a lot of work to do, there’s no question about it,” Mitchell said. “I need to make sure I do a better job of communicating with people (and) making certain people understand where they fit and what their roles are. I can improve in that. There’s no doubt about it.”
He also has to convince the seven players on the current roster to ride out the storm, but for that to happen, Mitchell has to persuade the players that staff stability is on the way, a key ingredient the program needs to stay successful in the win-loss column.
“It is a tough time for them and there is a lot of uncertainty with what’s going on,” Mitchell said. “There has been staff upheaval and staff changes and it’s hard on them. There is apprehension in how we move forward. What I must do is be very strong now and firm and let them know there is a path forward and that’s starting to come into focus.”
Mitchell isn’t concerned with a short roster, citing Washington’s run to the Final Four last March, but knows he needs to start building for the future immediately.
“Washington played five last year for most of the year,” he said. “That would be a new one for us, but I don’t believe that’s where we’re going to be. I feel really good about the seven that are in the room. If we can show them a path forward, and they can find some stability, and they can find some confidence going forward, and then our signee who makes eight.”
Although he’s Mitchell is determined to keep laying more bricks to the structure he built when he arrived from Morehead State nearly a decade ago. If one falls out of place, Mitchell is aware of the possible consequences.
“If we don’t (find the right path forward), then this will not end well,” Mitchell said. “That’s the bottom line. We cannot have this situation again. It will not happen overnight and everything that has happened has not happened overnight. It will take time, but I have no doubt we will get there.”
For all the success Mitchell has brought to the program, he deserves a second chance to repair the damage and restore order.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter