Duke coach Kara Lawson hires Kyra Elzy as an assistant, reuniting former Lady Vols teammates. Reuniting her former Tennessee teammates on the Blue Devils’ staff, former Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy was hired by Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson on Monday as an assistant.
In a statement, Lawson referred to the hire as a “big day” for Duke basketball and highlighted Elzy’s well-established national reputation for scouting and developing players, including three-time first team All-American Rhyne Howard, who the Atlanta Dream selected with the first overall pick in the 2022 WNBA draft. Elzy’s honesty, tactical acumen, and desire were all commended by the Blue Devils coach, who said they will help the program 
“She is one of the best relationship builders I’ve been around,” Lawson said of Elzy. “She’s been an elite player and coach. I look forward to pursuing championships together again.”
Elzy stated, “It is also a tremendous privilege to work with my sister and former teammate,” adding that she is “elated beyond belief” about joining Duke. Under the great coach Pat Summitt, Lawson and Elzy played together for Tennessee from 1999 to 2001. The squad lost to UConn in the NCAA final game despite winning the SEC Tournament in 2000.Elzy led Kentucky to victory in the 2022 Southeastern Conference Tournament and a rematch with the NCAA Tournament, when the team upset top-seeded South Carolina 64–62. Before being let go in March following back-to-back losing seasons, she coached the Wildcats for four seasons, going 61–60. Elzy had spent a total of 12 years with the team, working as an assistant and associate coach for Kentucky over her two stints. Elzy also worked at her alma university from 2012 to 2016, with stints at Western Kentucky and Kansas.
