matthew mitchell - University of Kentucky Athletics

MATT INSELL
ASSISTANT COACH INSELL ENTERS HIS FIRST SEASON AT KENTUCKY
STAFF
WILDCATS OUTLOOK KENTUCKY UK HOOPS
Matt Insell, a former top AAU coach and Director
of Basketball Operations at Louisiana Tech, is in
his first season as an assistant coach at Kentucky.
Along with recruiting duties, Insell also will be
responsible for the guards.
“Matt has worked several years now to prepare for
this opportunity,” Mitchell said. “He has developed a
network of contacts across the country that makes him a
very valuable asset to our recruiting efforts. He also has
experience in developing and preparing players, coaching
a number of players who have played at the highest level
in collegiate basketball. It is clear to me that he has the
desire, energy and enthusiasm to help Kentucky reach
our goals of being the best in the country.”
Insell spent last season as the Director of Basketball
Operations at Louisiana Tech under Coach Chris Long.
Prior to the Lady Techsters, he was considered one of the
top AAU coaches in the country, coaching the Tennessee
Flight, a Nike Elite Travel Program, for three years.
Insell made a national name for himself after coaching
41 of his former AAU players to play Division I basketball,
including current Wildcat Victoria Dunlap. He
also coached the Shelbyville Sports Shop 15 -Under team
to the AAU National Championship title in 2004.
“I’m very happy to be at Kentucky,” Insell said.
“What drew me here was Coach Mitchell’s passion to
take this program to a national championship level year
in, year out. His passion to succeed was a big selling
point for me. The basketball tradition here means everything
and when you think of Kentucky, you think of basketball.
This is a special place.”
Insell, 26, earned valuable basketball experience while
attending the University of Tennessee from 2001-2005.
He worked closely with both the men’s and women’s
basketball programs, serving as a student assistant/video
coordinator under former men’s head coach Buzz Peterson
and as an instructor at Pat Summitt’s summer basketball
camps. The Shelbyville, Tenn., native transferred
to Middle Tennessee State during the 2005-06 season
where his father Rick Insell is the head women’s basketball
coach. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in
political science from MTSU in 2007.
HISTORY RECORDS REVIEW
Coaching Career
2008-present: Assistant Coach, Kentucky
2007--08: Director of Basketball Operations, La Tech
2001-07: Head coach, AAU Tennessee Flight
Personal
Full Name: Matthew Ollen Insell
Birthday: Sept. 22, 1982
Hometown: Shelbyville, Tenn.
High School: Shelbyville Central HS
College: Middle Tennessee, ‘07
Degrees: Bachelor’s degree in political science
OPPONENTS HONORS
On Kentucky:
“When you think of Kentucky, you think basketball.
What fans invest in this program with their passion, year-in
and year-out, is priceless. One thing that sets Coach
Mitchell apart from the rest is his passion to succeed at the
top level and the direction he wants to take this program. I
love Kentucky and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Everyone has been great, everyone is friendly and it’s a
great atmosphere."
MEDIA INFO
GETTING TO KNOW COACH INSELL
• Played high school basketball at Shelbyville Central
• Son of Rick and Deb Insell
• Father is the head women’s basketball coach at Middle Tennessee State
• Has two brothers, Tom (30) and Kyle (27)
• Ran a AAU basketball team with brother Tom for 10 years
• Hobbies: Golf, watching TV and horse racing
• Coaching influences are Buzz Peterson, Rick Insell, and Pat Summitt
• Favorite professional sports teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Braves
• Favorite professional athlete: Michael Jordan
• Favorite thing about coaching: My favorite part is helping young women grow as individuals and basketball players on
and off the floor
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