Sports Briefs

UK Hoops hires former AAU coach

Women’s basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell rounded out his coaching staff yesterday for the 2008-09 season with the hiring of Matt Insell, a former top Amateur Athletic Union coach and director of basketball operations at Louisiana Tech.

Insell’s primary responsibilities will be recruiting and coaching the guards.

“Matt has worked several years now to prepare for this opportunity,” Mitchell said. “He has developed a network of contacts across the country that makes him a very valuable asset to our recruiting efforts.

“He also has experience in developing and preparing players, coaching a numbers of players who have played at the highest level in collegiate basketball. It is clear to me that he has the desire, energy and enthusiasm to help Kentucky reach our goals of being the best in the country.”

Prior to Insell’s stint at Louisiana Tech last season, he coached the Tennessee Flight, a Nike Elite Travel Program, for three years. There, Insell coached 41 AAU players who went on to play Division I basketball, including current UK player Victoria Dunlap.

“I’m very happy to be at Kentucky,” Insell said. “What drew me here was coach Mitchell’s passion to take this program to a national championship level year in, year out. His passion to succeed was a big selling point to me.

“The basketball tradition here means everything, and when you think of Kentucky, you think of basketball. This is a special place.”