March 18, 2003
Back to release
Coach Mickie DeMoss
On the opportunity to coach at Kentucky…
“I am excited about being the new head basketball coach at Kentucky. I am prepared, I am motivated, and I am committed to making the University of Kentucky a nationally competitive women’s basketball program. I look forward to meeting the players and instilling in them the work ethic that it is going to take to win in the SEC and to win nationally. I want to generate a new enthusiasm for women’s basketball here at Kentucky.”
“I will like to say congratulations to Tubby Smith and his basketball team, what they have done is not an easy task and I want to wish them the best of luck and I hope they can bring that championship back to Lexington.”
On coaching at Kentucky now…
“I have looked at several jobs over my 18-year tenure at Tennessee and I have always thought that if I ever had the opportunity to come to Kentucky and the resources were in place, it would be a job that I would jump at.”
On staying with Tennessee through their run at the NCAA tournament…
“Pat Summitt and Mitch and I discussed that and we felt that it was best that I finish out my career at Tennessee. I have been a part of a lot of success there, I recruited a lot of those players and I did not want to do anything to disrupt where they are in their season. We all have agreed that I will finish out the season at Tennessee. The day that the season is over, I will be in Lexington.”
On staying in the SEC…
“The SEC is brutal, it is tough in men’s basketball but it is highly competitive in women’s basketball year in and year out, but that is all I know. I know the league very well I have been in it for over 20 years now. I am confident in knowing what it takes to be successful in this conference.”
On the reaction of Tennessee’s players and coaches…
“I told the players last night, they were a little bit in shock, but they did congratulate me. I think that it is going to be a little different because I have been there for so long. Pat Summitt is a class act. She was so supportive of this move, I think that she knew it was going to happen. I think that everyone at Tennessee is very supportive of me.”
On meeting the returning Kentucky players…
“I met with Jenny Pfeiffer early and we discussed some areas that we are going to get better on. I plan on getting on the telephone and talking with the rest of the team and then come back to Lexington one day next week to meet them face-to-face.”
On her coaching philosophy…
“I like an uptempo style of play. I like to press and run, score more points than my opponent does! I am a firm believer that it starts on the defensive end.”
On how long it will take to turn the program around…
“There is no set amount of time. In this conference it is tough – it is hard to put a number on it. I would like to see some major progress next year and build on that.”
On recruiting…
“Next year’s recruiting class is probably the best that I have seen in years in women’s basketball, and with six seniors, it is crucial. I have been recruiting for Tennessee but that is going to switch real quick. Hopefully some of the relationships that I have built with the coaches and players will carry on to next year and bring it to Kentucky.”
Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart
“This is a great day for us and our women’s basketball program. It is our premier program in our women’s sports and we want to take steps to make it a premier program in the nation.”
“Today we take the first step toward the impressive wall (of banners) that we want to build. We’ve landed what many people feel in the game of women’s college basketball to be the top assistant coach out there today. She owns six national championships and has participated in 12 Final Fours. Today she takes over the reigns for our program. We think this program has tremendous potential and I’m proud to have her on our staff.”
“Pat Summitt is the John Wooden of women’s basketball and this woman (DeMoss) served as an assistant coach under her for 18 years. I’ve watched the way that they work the floor, how organized they were in practice, the meticulous way that they go about their business. They knew when to push the buttons as a staff – when to hit the gas pedal and when to lay off. That’s a very fine line you walk. I think that is something that Mickie has been able to get from Pat.
“She has incredible integrity. She’s a classy person. When you talk about the principles I want to have in our program, she embodies every one of them.”
-uk-
