Kentucky women’s basketball staff underwent big changes in offseason. Meet the newcomers.

While the college basketball offseason generally brings about some level of change, Kentucky women’s basketball has experienced quite a bit of it.

Most would be quick to point out the roster looks different from last season, what with the additions of freshmen Jordy Griggs and Janaé Walker and Tennessee transfer Brooklynn Miles, plus the graduations of Adebola Adeyeye, Robyn Benton and Blair Green and the exits of Kennedy Cambridge (Ohio State), Jada Walker (Baylor) and Tionna Herron (Texas) via the transfer portal.

However, head coach Kyra Elzy also ushered in several new members to both her coaching and support staffs.

Since their third-round Southeastern Conference Tournament exit on March 3 to Tennessee, the Wildcats have said goodbye to five staff members and welcomed six new ones.

“I wouldn’t be who I am,” Elzy told the Herald-Leader at her Give Back Camp last month, “or the program wouldn’t run like it does without my coaching staff first … our coaching staff, a lot of wisdom, knowledge, basketball competence, but they love Kentucky and they’re here to serve our players. So that’s important. And then our support staff. We have added some new pieces and so we are all gas, no brakes right now. But that’s the energy and vibe that I want.”

The following is a list of each new staff member and their duties.

Coaching staff

CRYSTAL KELLY

Role: Assistant coach

Graduated: Western Kentucky University (2008)

Replaces: Amber Smith, who is now an assistant coach at Indiana

Elzy said: “(Coach Kelly) has been phenomenal, has a great way about her. Obviously, she’s used to winning and being successful, but has a great knack to build relationships with the players.”

▪ To fill the assistant coach position vacated by longtime assistant and former player Amber Smith, Elzy chose a face familiar to the state of Kentucky’s basketball scene. Elzy first recruited Kelly, the 2004 Miss Kentucky Basketball and three-time KHSAA state champion out of Sacred Heart, to WKU, where Kelly spent four seasons (2004-08) as a dominant post player and finished as the 12th-leading scorer in NCAA Division I history.

Kelly arrives at UK after two years as Towson’s associate head coach, guiding the Tigers to consecutive 20-plus-win seasons. With the Wildcats, Kelly oversees recruiting and serves as the primary coach to the post players.

JENNY HUTH*

Role: Associate coach of player development

Graduated: University of Colorado (2002)

Replaces: Daniel Boice, who is now the director of player development at Florida

Elzy said: “A spitfire of passion.”

▪ Huth, a former assistant coach at both Oregon State (2021-23) and UCLA (2011-18) and head coach at Northern Colorado (2018-21), will focus on player development with the Wildcats. She’ll assist with workouts, as well as help develop players both on and off the court.

JAAMAL RHODES*

Role: Associate coach of player relations

Graduated: Augusta State University (2005)

Replaces: No one. This is a new position

Elzy said: “Our male counterpart. You figure you need a male perspective, but the energy he brings, he loves being on the court. Threw him in on day one, he was sweating on the court with the players.”

▪ After nearly 20 years in coaching, Rhodes steps into a new chapter with the Wildcats. Rhodes is the only offseason hire who doesn’t fill an existing position; his job is new to the UK staff and has a wide variety of responsibilities.

Rhodes began his coaching career in 2006, working with players in both Georgia and later Arizona. He has served as a skills development trainer at Grind2Go Skill Development, the coach/director of AZ Supreme Hoops and established AZ Compass Prep School across the country.

Among his many duties, Rhodes, as the associate coach of player relations, serves as the point person between the program and compliance. He also assists Elzy with special projects related to the players and plays a large role in recruiting. While recruits closer to graduation are front of mind for Elzy, Kelly and the rest of the coaching staff, Rhodes keeps an eye on younger players with potential.

Also included in Rhodes’ position is the role of alumni liaison, a task that used to belong to Smith.

*Per UK Athletics, the program had the option to hire two additional on-court coaches. The difference between coaches Huth and Rhodes and the quartet of Elzy, associate head coach Niya Butts, assistant coach Jenny Hoover and Kelly is that the “core four” may recruit off-campus while Huth and Rhodes may not.

Support staff

JODI ANSERT

Role: Recruiting assistant

Graduated: Georgetown College (2019)

Replaces: Kylie Rennekamp Thompson

▪ The role of recruiting assistant, one that is typically a two-year position, now belongs to Ansert. She helps Kelly in recruiting, serving as her right-hand woman when it comes to future Wildcats. Ansert assists in preparing for official visits, laying out the schedules and arranging meetings. She also helps maintain the list of all prospects and reminds Elzy who to contact when.

Ansert was an assistant coach for Pikeville in 2019-20 prior to serving as a human resource specialist at Baptist Health in Louisville.

LIZ BROWN

Role: NIL director

Graduated: University of Richmond (2015)

Replaces: Former director of recruiting Aisha Foy, who now runs her own NIL business

▪ Brown has stepped into a role that has traditionally served as a catch-all for the program. And, while Foy did focus on name, image and likeness once the NCAA ruled college students could profit from it, the renamed position demonstrates a concerted effort to focus on NIL. Brown’s main responsibility, according to UK, lies in NIL programming and assistance. NIL education and brand management are also emphasized in her position.

Brown was most recently at Fordham University, where she served as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season following a director of administration position in 2021-22.

JEROD MCCULLEN

Role: Coaching video coordinator

Graduated: Central Michigan University (2022)

Replaces: DeNesha Stallworth, who begins her first season as an assistant coach with Santa Barbara this fall

▪ McCullen was the first of the offseason hires, with the announcement of his joining arriving in May. His responsibilities include collecting, reviewing and cutting up game film for team learning and preparation for future games.

Prior to UK, McCullen served as the director of operations at Central Michigan. As an undergraduate student at CMU, he spent two seasons as a student manager.

Offseason summary

IN: Recruiting assistant Jodi Ansert, NIL director Liz Brown, associate coach of player development Jenny Huth, assistant coach Crystal Kelly, coaching video coordinator Jerod McCullen and associate coach of player relations Jaamal Rhodes.

OUT: Director of player development Daniel Boice, director of recruiting Aisha Foy, assistant coach Amber Smith, coaching video coordinator DeNesha Stallworth and recruiting assistant Kylie Thompson.

Important upcoming dates

Oct. 13: Big Blue Madness, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: Exhibition game vs. Kentucky State in Rupp Arena, 11 a.m.

Nov. 7: Regular season and home opener vs. East Tennessee State at Transylvania University, 7 p.m.