The Mark Stoops era had some ups and downs, and some interesting coaching moves. The "winningest coach in school history" was fired back in December, ending a 13-year run that had simply run its course.
But while Stoops is sitting on the couch collecting his massive buyout, his former assistants didn't exactly head to the unemployment line.
In fact, Kentucky, will be seeing quite a few of them pretty quickly/
It seems like half the SEC decided to go shopping in the bargain bin of Kentucky's fired staff, meaning the Wildcats will be staring across the field at familiar faces all season long.
Sleeping with the enemy
Let's start with Brad White.
The architect of Kentucky's defense, or at least the man that Stoops trusted enough to help build it, is now with another former Wildcat, Jon Sumrall, in Florida. He took the DC job shortly after Sumrall was hired.
He also took defensive backs coach Chris Collins with him.
But it doesn't stop there. The SEC is littered with former Kentucky staffers now.
Where everyone landed
Here is the complete breakdown of where the 2025 staff is coaching this season:
The SEC poaches
- Brad White (Defensive Coordinator), Florida (Defensive Coordinator)
- Bush Hamdan (Offensive Coordinator), Mississippi State (Associate Head Coach for Offense)
- Eric Wolford (Offensive Line) LSU (Offensive Line) *It almost makes you feel bad for Lane Kiffin, almost.
- L’Damian Washington (Wide Receivers), Ole Miss (Wide Receivers)
- Derek Shay (Tight Ends), Texas A&M (Tight Ends)
- Chris Collins (Defensive Backs), Florida (Safeties)
The others
- Mike Hartline (Offensive QC), South Florida (Quarterbacks)
- Chase Heuke (Director of Recruiting), Louisville (Director of Recruiting)
- Brad Lambert (Defensive Analyst), Marshall (Defensive Coordinator)
- Jay Boulware (Special Teams/RBs), West Virginia (Running Backs)
- Kevin Barbay (Offensive Analyst), Tulsa (Offensive Coordinator)
- Dean Hood (Player Development), Marshall (Safeties)
- Nate Fuqua (Defensive Analyst), (Co-Defensive Coordinator)
The one who stayed home
- Mark Stoops $\rightarrow$ Unemployed (Collecting Buyout)
Out with the old, In with the new...mostly
The vibe in Lexington has completely flipped. Will Stein has arrived to scrub the program clean with a totally new staff and a modern offense, and a monster staff, which you can read more about here.
The Mark Stoops era was defined by stability, but it ended with his staff scattering in the wind. The Will Stein era is starting with a clean slate, with the lone holdover being Anwar Stewart, and he's going to need it, considering the Cats have a crazy schedule next year.