Jon Sumrall will be missed as coach and recruiter

Jon Sumrall, right, is leaving UK to be head coach at Troy. (Vicky Graff Photo)

I still remember when former University of Kentucky linebacker Jon Sumrall joined the UK coaching staff for the 2019 season and what former UK offensive coordinator Neal Brown told me. Sumrall had been on Brown’s staff at Troy before Brown got the head job at West Virginia. Brown told me not only was Sumrall a great coach, but he was an even better recruiter.

“He just has a way of relating to players and their parents,” Brown said. “He has the right personality and is a relentless worker.”

Sumrall was all that and more the last three seasons at Kentucky as linebacker coach but now is headed for Troy. He was named head coach there Thursday and it is obvious he will be missed.

“Couldn’t be happier for @CoachJonSumrall!  Troy got themselves a great one.  The passion he displays on a daily basis for his players, family, friends and program is unrivaled. It’s the reason success will be the only option.  As of today, I’m a Trojan fan!!” tweeted UK defensive coordinator Brad White after Sumrall’s hiring was confirmed.

“Very happy for my man Jon. Good coach but a better person. Going to really miss him. God bless @CoachJonSumrall and his family,” Kentucky associate coach Vince Marrow tweeted.

Sumrall was an assistant head coach under Brown at Troy from 2015-17 when the Trojans were 21-5 the last two seasons. The Trojans won a school-record 11 games in 2017, including one against LSU. The defense ranked first in the nation in red zone defense (.614), second in tackles for loss per game (8.6), seventh in rushing defense (105.3), 11th in scoring defense and 24th in total defense per game (336.6).

Sumrall, a Huntsville, Alabama native, has helped the UK defense rank 25th nationally in total yards allowed this season.