Vince Marrow said some UK fans have wished him well. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Former Kentucky associate coach Vince Marrow has seen the social media backlash since his decision to leave the UK football program and take a job as executive director of player personnel and recruiting for Louisville under coach Jeff Brohm.
However, Marrow said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk that he’s also heard from a “lot of people” who have shared different opinions with him.
“Did they not want me to leave? But are they saying the heck with this guy like he’s a bad guy? No, they’re not saying that. They wish me well and they want to continue being for him,” said Marrow.
He again emphasized how many friends he had in Lexington who were “pissed” he was leaving UK but also thanked him for his 12 years at Kentucky that included 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021.
“They were really sad to see me go, and I really do believe that,” Marrow said.
Marrow also said he was disappointed that some “radio shows were taking little bits of my interviews” and indicating that he did not like Lexington.
“I love this place,” he told former UK all-SEC running back Anthony White and myself and WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “This place is a place that I said I was still gonna keep my home here no matter where I went if I came to a time where I was gonna leave Kentucky.
“(Lexington mayor) Linda Gorton texted me. Everybody knows that was just a bunch of bull (about not liking Lexington). They know I really adore this place.”
Marrow said leaving was a “hard decision” but also pointed out that for almost two years he had been saying college football would have to take a NFL-like approach with a general manager and/or player personnel director to help the head coach deal with NIL, the transfer portal and recruiting. When Brohm, someone he’s known for over 25 years, offered him the position he did, he took it.
Why not do the same thing at Kentucky?
“There was already people in place (at Kentucky now), but I kind of was doing this my first six years. It just wasn’t called that in college football. Wasn’t going that route,” Marrow said. “This was a great opportunity for me. I think Kentucky is going to be fine. I’m not one of the coaches that when he leaves a program, he wishes bad for that program.
“The head coach I love. I got guys on that staff I love. I got players, you know, I have a great relationship with a lot of those guys, and so I want them to do well. I just don’t like the perception that’s trying to be painted about me to these fans.
“People say, ‘You can’t just leave.’ No, I lived there for twelve years. I really, really admired this fan base, and all I wanted was to make them be respectable in college football. When I first got here, we were a laughing stock. And for seven to eight years, I pounded the ground, pounded the roads, trying to find talent to change the perception of what people thought about Kentucky football.
“I am really going to miss this fan base. They really were good people, and I understand some of them being mad at me. I understand that comes with the territory. I’m not trying to change that perception. But don’t forget where we started and where we ended.”
10 Responses
I will remember progress the regression. # truth
That’s the norm since I been following them since late 60’s
As bad as this season will be, it will be even worse in 2026/27. Will Stoops do the honorable thing and resign? I doubt it and I have 9 million reasons why to doubt it. Will Barnhart grow a pair and fire him? Absolutely not! That would mean having to admit he made a mistake in the buyout clause of Stoop’s contract. I see this saga running for at least 3 more years and by that time our football program will be in shambles.
I can see him being here this year and next year but I doubt he gets by 2 more years. The fans can out Stoops if they don’t show up for the games. I know I’m not going to one football game until we get a new coach. Its not worth the drive from Louisville to Lexington. The last 3 years have been painful to watch. A very boring offense and defense has the same narrative 2 good stops then a long 3rd down conversion. Its like the same thing over and over. I’m ready for a change. I’m ready to see a exciting offense for once. Stoops has definitely been a defense first coach but lately he hasn’t even had that.
I dont see that.. I think sumerall will be the coach .
It’s a free country, and Marrow can say what he wants, but one does not leave UK for Louisville, no way! Especially the way Louisville handled it. That move on his part has forever changed his legacy as a beloved coach for Wildcat football. I venture to say if a poll was taken with true long time Big Blue football fans, it would confirm my opinion. For Stoops, his future is hanging by a thread. He can probably save his job with a winning season in 25, and a victory against Louisville; good luck with that. Lose to Louisville in 25 and Brohm will own him. I said when Louisville hired that man it was bad news for this current UK staff. Brohm is a football coach that knows how to put an offense in gear.
Stoop’s income is more than secure for the rest of his life. If he really cared about UK, BBN and what legacy he could be leaving behind, he would tender his resignation UL has gotten commitments from 2 of UK OL targets in last 24 hrs and this is just getting started.
He doesn’t care about us.
Why would he quit a job paying him that much? Would you?
All of these comments, I know, come from the heart but I think we are, at some level, missing what is really happening. College football is right in the middle of a grand adjustment between an amateur team college football model to a professional model and coaching staffs are still trying to figure out how to operate in the new environment. Remember that most coaches grew up and learned under the old model. They now have to relearn how to build and maintain a team and they have a lot of learning in front of them before things settle down.
It appears to me that Mark Stoops is catching on to the new system a lot slower than middle to upper tier of college coaches. Never mind that his first preference is a "three yards and cloud of dust" model, but he has let so many opportunities slip by in trying to hang on to an antiquated football model. How many really good OC’s has he let go who are proving themselves as winners with other teams. How many good QB’s with great potential left the squad under developed. These days, an OC is a full partner; not an assistant.
What KY needs and does not, and I propose will never have, is a great Team Manager that can get the max out of the OC’s and DC’s. But first you have to have very talented OC’s. And, we don’t have that now. Why? Because Stoops pigheaded ego won’t allow it and as everyone is well aware, he ain’t going anywhere until the last paycheck of his current contract. Why would he?