Through 22 seasons, nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament, four conference Coach of the Year awards, six conference titles, and a historic 2022-23 season that saw the Hokies reaching one milestone after another while making it to the Final Four, Virginia Tech Head Coach Kenny Brooks has notched his 500th career victory this past Sunday evening against Rutgers.
Brooks took the reins of a strong program in James Madison and made it even stronger, compiling 11 straight years with at least 24 wins as head coach of the Dukes. After leading JMU to six NCAA Tournament appearances, Brooks joined the Hokies in 2016 and continued his winning ways, rattling off four seasons with at least 20 wins to begin his tenure at Virginia Tech. Most recently, Brooks has led the Hokies to three straight NCAA bids, culminating in the program's first ever appearance in the Final Four.
First Win: Dec. 15, 2002 at Norfolk State (92-63)
After being named interim head coach just eight days prior, Kenny Brooks notched his first win for James Madison. For Brooks, his first win at the helm of the Dukes came back on Dec. 15, 2002 at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg in a 92-63 victory against Norfolk State.
Shanna Price led the charge for the Dukes with 22 points, while Jess Cichowicz recorded 10 points and 12 assists in the game.
The first half of basketball in the Kenny Brooks era ended with JMU up by 20 points by a score of 50-30.
The first victory in Brooks' head coaching career came for his alma mater on a Sunday afternoon.
First NCAA Tournament Win: March 23, 2014 vs. Gonzaga (72-63)
In his third appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Kenny Brooks led the Dukes to a victory over Gonzaga.
After securing a CAA Championship a week prior, Brooks and JMU traveled to College Station, Texas to take on the Zags in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In a close contest, the Dukes pulled away thanks to a historic performance by Kirby Burkholder, who finished the game with 28 points and 18 rebounds while also going 17-for-18 from the free throw line.
First Ranked Win: Nov. 14, 2014 vs. No. 23 UCLA (91-87 OT)
The first ranked win during Kenny Brooks' time at James Madison came in an overtime thriller against the 23rd ranked Bruins. Lauren Okafor's 16 points and 16 rebounds helped to propel JMU past UCLA. The back-and-forth game was sent to overtime when Precious Hall hit two free throws to tie the game at 75 apiece, before James Madison pulled away for a four-point victory. Hall finished the game with 25 points and was one of four Dukes with at least 15 points.
303rd Win: Feb. 15, 2015 vs. Delaware (94-64)
To lead a program to success is one thing, but to be consistent is another. In what would be Brooks' 10th consecutive season with at least 24 wins, he would become the winningest coach in JMU Women's Basketball history.
Led by the duo of Precious Hall and Lauren Okafor, who combined for 41 points, the Dukes defeated Delaware at home for Brooks' 303rd win at the helm of James Madison. This put him at the top of the list, surpassing Sheila Moorman, who spent 15 years as JMU's head coach.
Brooks would finish with 337 wins as head coach of the Dukes.
First Win At Virginia Tech: Nov. 11, 2016 vs. UNC-Asheville (71-52)
The Kenny Brooks era in Blacksburg was off to a hot start with the Hokies earning a victory in Brooks' first game at the helm over UNC-Asheville.
The nonconference matchup did not exactly start the way many would have liked, as the Hokies trailed by four at the half. The Hokies caught fire in the second half, pulling away from the Bulldogs, with Chanette Hicks leading the way with 24 points.
The momentum from this first victory for Brooks as head coach of the Hokies would carry on, as Virginia Tech would rattle off 15 straight wins to begin the Kenny Brooks era in Blacksburg.
First Ranked Win at Virginia Tech: Feb. 21, 2019 vs. No. 14 Miami (73-65)
It would take a couple years for Brooks to earn his first victory against a ranked opponent, but a home ACC matchup with the Hurricanes would be just the night to start.
In another game where the Hokies trailed at the half, Brooks' squad fought back and outscored Miami 42-30 in the final two frames to earn the victory. Three Hokies would finish with at least 16 points, including Aisha Sheppard, who would go on to be a three-time All-ACC honoree, as well as earning an honorable mention in the 2021 AP All-America voting.
First NCAA Tournament Win at Virginia Tech: March 21, 2021 vs. No. 10 Marquette (70-63)
The 2020-21 season would see the Hokies earn a seven seed in the NCAA Tournament, leading to a matchup with the Marquette Golden Eagles in San Marcos, Texas.
Virginia Tech would never trail to Marquette during the game, led by Elizabeth Kitley, who would finish this first round matchup with 23 points while playing the entirety of the game. Two mainstays in Brooks' lineup over the following season, Cayla King and Georgia Amoore, would make strong contributions in this victory.
The 2022-2023 Season: 31-5 (14-4) record, Final Four Appearance
After being picked to finish second in the ACC, defending ACC Player of the Year, Elizabeth Kitley, and head coach Kenny Brooks would put the women's basketball world on notice.
The Hokies would start the season off with 10 straight wins, reaching sixth in the AP Poll, before dropping a crucial matchup at home to No. 5 Notre Dame. Virginia Tech would drop out of the top 10, but would never fall lower than 13th in the rankings.
A road matchup with No. 22 North Carolina would see a historic milestone be reached in the Kenny Brooks era, as Elizabeth Kitley would become Virginia Tech's all-time leading scorer. Kitley had already become Tech's leader in field goals earlier in the season, and would put etch her name in Tech's record books again, setting program records in double-doubles and blocks later in the season. Kitley would also finish the season named the ACC Player of the Year for a second season in a row.
The Hokies would finish the regular season with a 24-4 record, going 14-4 in ACC play. This earned Tech a three seed in the ACC Tournament, where they would tally victories against No. 6 Miami and No. 2 Duke before winning the program's first ACC title against No. 4 Louisville, with Georgia Amoore taking home the Finals MVP for the tournament.
March 12 would become a historic day in the program's history, as that was the day Virginia Tech was announced as a one seed in the NCAA Tournament, and sitting at fourth in the AP Poll. Blacksburg would play host to the first weekend of NCAA Tournament games, with the Hokies beginning their trek towards a title against Chattanooga.
Led by Georgia Amoore's 22 points, Tech would win their first round matchup 58-33. Two days later, Tech was back in action against South Dakota State, defeating the Jackrabbits 72-60, again led by 21 points from Amoore.
The Hokies then traveled to Seattle, where they would play No. 24 Tennessee in the Sweet 16. A dominant 29-point performance by Georgia Amoore would propel the Tech past the Lady Vols, 73-64. No. 12 Ohio State would be next in Virginia Tech's first Elite Eight appearance. Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore would combine for 49 points to lift the Hokies past the Buckeyes, 84-74. Amoore would earn Most Outstanding Player honors in the Seattle 3 Regional.
A date with No. 9 LSU in Dallas was set, and despite four Hokies recording at least 14 points, Tech would fall to the eventual national champions, 72-79.
The season saw three Hokies receive All-ACC honors, with Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore making the first team and Taylor Soule on the second. Kitley also was a member of the All-ACC defensive team. Two Hokies, Soule and Kayana Traylor, would be drafted to the WNBA. Kitley would earn her second nod on the AP All-America Team, making the second team. Amoore would also receive an honorable mention in the All-America team.
500th Career Win: Dec. 17, 2023 at Rutgers (84-59)
Tech made 17 3's for the second time in three games which propelled the Hokies to a big road victory at Jersey Mike's Arena. Matilda Ekh scored 25 (seven triples) and Georgia Amoore added 18 as did Olivia Summiel off the bench. The Hokies held Rutgers to 30% shooting from the field and owned a plus-ten advantage on the glass.
