CJ Conrad, right, with UK assistant coach Vince Marrow and UK players. (Twitter Photo)
Kentucky coaches, players and recruits have all praised the work of former UK tight end CJ Conrad since he joined the football coaching staff in 2020 as a graduate assistant coach.
He worked with Vince Marrow, UK’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, and was promoted to offensive quality control coach in February — and now he’s leaving UK.
Eastern Kentucky University coach Walt Wells, a former UK assistant, had added Conrad as his tight ends coach.
“I had the great fortune to watch C.J. play during my time at Kentucky. He is a highly motivated, intelligent young coach who has played the position and had great success. I am very excited about what he brings to our tight ends room,” Wells said in an Eastern Kentucky University press release.
What Conrad brought to Kentucky was a toughness that could not be taught and a knack for making big plays. He started 42 games from 2015-18 and had 80 catches for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had more catches than any UK tight end except for former all-SEC performer Jacob Tamme.
Wells was an assistant coach at Tennessee the first three years Conrad played at UK before joining UK for Conrad’s final season with the Wildcats.
“I am so excited for this opportunity at EKU,” Conrad said in the EKU press release. “I’ve learned so much during my time at Kentucky. The knowledge I’ve gained from coach Stoops, coach Marrow, and coach (Liam) Coen is invaluable and I’m eager to get to work.”
On Twitter he posted he was “forever thankful” for what the UK coaches and program did for him.
Marrow left no doubt about what he thought about Conrad’s future.
“He will be a star in college football,” Marrow tweeted after Conrad’s promotion was announced.
Conrad will be back at Kroger Field Sept. 9 when Kentucky hosts Eastern Kentucky in its second game of the season.
