IT’S GOTTA BE THE SHOES! #KellysKicks: SEC’s Newest Head Coach’s Signature Look

These beauties are called "Jordan 4 Hot Punch" (Photo courtesy UAA)

By LOREN MEADOWS

Gator Bait Media Lighthouse

“It’s Gotta Be The Shoes!!!” was a famous statement by Spike Lee’s fictional alter ego Mars Blackmon in 1989 to usher in the cultural revolution that would become the Air Jordan sneaker phenomenon.

As it turns out, some 30-plus years later, the Florida Women’s Basketball Program has become the talk the SEC. These Gators are gritty, play together, and have a style all their own. That style is personified in their leader Coach Kelly Rae Finley who has taken this opportunity to not only provide us with a fun style of hoops to enjoy but also a stylish, vibrant collection of Air Jordan footwear to admire as well.

I sat down with the new Gators women’s basketball coach to discuss what could become her signature “swag.”

She has an understated look, but is beginning to enjoy a bit of fashion (Chris Spears Photo)

In this case, the Air Jordan 1 Low Diamonds work. (UAA Photo)

Ironically #KellysKicks has an interesting backstory involving All-SEC point guard Kiki Smith. Coach Finley noticed that Jordan Brand shoe boxes were constantly delivered for the lightning quick point guard (as it turns out Smith has smaller feet than most of her teammates.

Finley then reached out to a longtime friend who happens to represent Jordan brand and jokingly asked when her package of shoes would arrive. What followed shortly thereafter was a plethora of vibrant, uniquely styled Air Jordans delivered to the basketball practice complex and just like that #KellysKicks had begun.

When asked about her love of basketball shoes, Kelly Rae admits that she is just a “simple girl from the Midwest” who wasn’t always into the Jordan Brand growing up in Minnesota. She spoke fondly about hasty trips to the mall with her father and future coach to pick out basketball shoes that were more about fit and function than fashion.

Coach Finley is very humble in the way she goes about coaching her team and that humbleness filters down to her choice in shoes for each game as she was quick to give Head of Basketball Operations Serena Lamar credit for her advice on which styles fit best for each game.

Finley does admit, however, that she looks forward to continuing to wear new styles and repeating some of her favorites in the future, including the Air Jordan 1 Low Diamond.

Originally for comfort, Coach Finley would often wear her favorites, the traditional Air Jordan 1 in basic Blues, Black, and White to begin the season. However, it was a 13-5 start and a trip to Lexington for the Jordan 1 Barely Green Low to catch the eye of social media, sneakerheads, and #KellysKicks.

In this case, the Air Jordan 1 Mid Blues get it done. (UAA Photo)

Since then, shoe reveals on the Women’s Basketball Instagram and Twitter have seemed to precede some of the Gators’ best wins of the season. There was the Air Jordan 1 Low SE Crater (made with recycled materials) for the big win vs LSU, the Air Jordan 1 Mid Blue for the historical defeat of Tennessee, followed by sneakerhead favorites, the Air Jordan Retro Rust Pink for the big win at rival Georgia, and the Air Jordan 4 Hot Punch as the Gators vanquished Arkansas.

The women on the team had grown accustomed to certain pregame activities: Obviously, who will be defending who, what play may be run at the tip, but also what J’s will coach be wearing for the game.

#KellysKicks has drawn interest from UF staff at many gyms – including mine -- to the Gator fan who stopped freshman guard Alberte Rimdal in the elevator last week in Nashville with interest in what shoes her coach would be wearing for the game.

I asked Coach Finley if #KellysKicks is something that she thought she would like to develop as her signature swag. Along with such things as Kim Mulkey’s unique jackets, Muffet McGraw’s scarves, or Pat Summit’s iconic pants suits.

“Why not? It could be a lot of fun!” she responded.

To die for: Air Jordan 3 Retro Rust Pink (UAA Photo)

She definitely loves the “Kicks” but also expressed that she planned to carry on patiently one day at a time one win at a time.

As a bonified sneakerhead myself, I look forward to looking at the Women’s Basketball Twitter or Instagram page to see what Coach Finley will be wearing for games to come.

As her presence grows, no doubt future recruits and Gators fans will continue to tune in to the “shoe reveals” as well.

With a new five-year contract just signed, the UF Women’s program has positioned itself for a promising future. It is hoped by many fans that #Kelly’s Kicks -- along with the coach of the same first name -- will be around for quite some time.

As the program continues to improve, and gain prominence in the SEC, when others ask what’s going on in Gainesville, you can look forward to the fans answering in unison, “ITS GOTTA BE the SHOES!”