Kenny Brooks brings another assistant coach to Lexington.
Brooks and UK Athletics announced Wednesday that former Virginia Tech women's basketball assistant Radvil “Rad” Ortzkeit will join the Kentucky women's basketball staff as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
“It has been an honor to work with Coach Brooks over the years, and I am honored to continue working with a high-level program like Kentucky,” Oatskeit said. “I am very excited to join Big Blue Nation and look forward to continuing to help grow the Kentucky basketball tradition for years to come!”
Oatskeit first arrived in Blacksburg in 2017 and began working as a graduate assistant with the Hokies after two seasons as a graduate assistant at Webber International in Babson Park, Florida. Oatskeite then spent two seasons as a player personnel specialist at Virginia Tech. She was named assistant coach ahead of the 2022-23 season.
As an assistant coach, Oatskeit was part of some of the biggest moments in Virginia Tech women's basketball history. The Hokies won the ACC tournament in 2022-23, advanced to the Final Four, and won their first ACC regular season championship in 2023-24.
Outskite played the guard position for Reinhardt at the NAIA level and won the NAIA AAC Female Champion of Character Award. This award is presented annually to a female athlete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference who has demonstrated a high level of character, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
A native of Lithuania, Audukaite played for the Lithuanian national team at U16, U18 and U20 levels. The announcement of her hiring came hours after the program announced that former Virginia Tech associate head coach Lindsey Hicks has been hired to serve in the same role at UK.
While at Virginia Tech, Oatskeit worked with former Hokies Aisha Shepherd, Kendyl Brooks and Taylor Emery. She also helped develop All-America point guard Georgia Amoore, who signed with the Wildcats on Monday as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech. On Tuesday, 6-foot-5 freshman center Clara Stracke also signed with the Wildcats as a transfer from Virginia Tech.
The Wildcats also received verbal offers from Amelia Hassett, a 6-foot-3 sophomore forward from Northeast Florida, formerly of Virginia Tech, and Lexi Blue, a 6-foot-2 guard who is No. 38 overall in the Class of 2024. I also received an appointment.
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