New Kentucky Women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks.

KENNY BROOKS TO KENTUCKY; Will Georgia Amoore Stay?

According to the trusted Louisville Courier Journal a few minutes ago:

"Kentucky went just across the state line to find its newest women's basketball coach.

"UK on Tuesday tabbed Kenny Brooks to guide the program. Brooks spent the past eight seasons in the same capacity at Virginia Tech, going 180-82 (.687), including a 76-70 mark in ACC play.

"But Brooks and the Hokies took their play to another level the past three seasons, winning 75.9% (41-13) of their league games and 25 of their last 27 conference contests at home.

Brooks replaces Kyra Elzy as Kentucky's coach. UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart dismissed Elzy on March 11." He signed a six-year, $6.4 million contract extension with Tech in 2023. The buyout is about $700,000.

Virginia Tech's Georgia Amoore could turn pro. Will she?

The next important question: Does Georgia Amoore decide to turn pro, since Brooks--a father figure to her--will be gone?

Athletic Director Whit Babcock said today in a news release today,

"We hired Kenny in 2016 with the intent of revitalizing our women's basketball program.

"Needless to say, Kenny, his staff and student-athletes created a culture of excellence on and off the court. He was an incredible mentor to the young women in our women's basketball program and a terrific representative of our department and university. We wish Kenny and his family well in this next chapter of his career.

"I remain confident in the trajectory of our women's basketball program and when combined with our resources, specifically NIL, that the future of our women's basketball program is bright."

Kim Caldwell of Marshall University should get strong look by Virginia Tech.

THE NEXT TECH COACH? (Oh, Please, Please)

Kenny Brooks is gone from Virginia Tech as women's basketball coach. What next?

Kim Caldwell (pictured) of Marshall University, which lost to Tech in the NCAA a few days ago, would be a superb replacement. She is young, dynamic, intensely successful and from a basketball family. She also only makes about $90,000 a year.

Brooks' most recent Tech contract (2023) is worth $6.4 million over six years. His new salary at Kentucky hasn't been announced, but it will be a good bit more than that. There is about a $700,000 buyout.

 

A Celebration of Jimmy Buffett at MMT

Those of us who saw a distinct shadow lurking just offstage last night at Mill Mountain Theatre would swear it was the ghost of Jimmy Buffett, singing, dancing, laughing and thoroughly enjoying this theatrical homage to a man who knew how to enjoy life.

On stage was "Escape to Margaritaville," a thoroughly entertaining look at life through Buffett's eyes, though he died six months ago. The full house, I would estimate, had an average age in the 60s (Buffet and I were born two months apart in 1946), but the level of enthusiasm was more reminiscent of teenagers enjoying their favorite music, Parrot Heads or not. 

As you might expect "Margaritaville" is a show about allowing life to be more than stress and work. It's about having fun and feeling thoroughly good about it. At play here are an uptight scientist (played and sung well by Felicia Martis, a New York actress) and a Buffett-like signer who hasn't "made it," nor who cares. "Brick," the Buffett character, is played by Elliot Smith. They are supported by a solid ensemble, headed by Ariana Valdes and Michael Walker.

Not surprisingly, the audience was as much a headliner as anybody on stage. The members sang out loud to "Let's Get Drunk (and Screw)," "Margaritaville,"  and a dozen other Buffett standards. They wore Hawaiian flower-dy shirts and huge smiles throughout the evening. 

Hector Flores, who has made a solid impression during the past year or so at MMT, was director and choreographer in a production where the dancing was as important as the signing. It would be especially difficult to come away from this production without smiling. And I didn't see anybody who even tried.

The play continues through March 31. You may order tickets ($20-$42) at 540-342-5740.