Stoops Admits Bringing Eric Wolford Back Was a “difficult decision”

Vicky Graff Photo

Mark Stoops admits there were a lot of issues when former UK offensive line coach Eric Wolford suddenly left after the 2021 season to take a job at Alabama but that has not stopped Stoops from bringing him back to be UK’s offensive line coach again.

“I think the last time when he left — any time when someone leaves your program there’s always a bit of a hurt or regret, whatever you want to call it, especially when somebody is only there a short period of time,” Stoops told WLEX-TV’s BBN Tonight host Maggie Davis. “I learned things since Eric’s left about that transition.

“There’s things I could’ve done better. There’s things he could’ve done better. I think both of us understand that. The big thing is in our business, there’s no room for being sensitive. You gotta have thick skin, you can’t be sensitive, you have to do what’s right at all times.

“Ultimately, you have to make tough decisions sometimes and I think that separation was difficult on some people, including me.”

Wolford spent two seasons at Alabama working for two offensive coordinators. In 2023 Alabama’s offensive lined allowed 49 sacks, ranking No. 122 in the country. However, Stoops still fired Zach Yenser after giving him a contract extension in December to make room to bring back Wolford.

“The bottom line is he’s one heck of a football coach, I know what he can do, I know how he can help this program, and ultimately that’s very important,” Stoops told Davis on WLEX-TV. “We felt like Eric was the type of guy, the type of fit that can help us.

“Again, I think he strikes that balance of being extremely supportive, developing young men, caring about them deeply, and investing in them deeply with his time. He’s very passionate about what he does.”

Wolford will receive a two-year contract. He will be paid $350,000 for the 2024 season and $800,000 in the 2025 season.  Kentucky owes Yenser $650,000 because his contract runs through June of 2025

Stoops admitted he was not sure there was ever “good timing” to make a change like he did.

“I also contemplate a lot of things at the end of the season and evaluate everything. But I also want to make sure I don’t just make rash decisions if I don’t have a very good succession plan,” Stoops said.  “I just don’t want to make moves to make moves and disrupt continuity if I don’t have a better plan in place. Read between the lines on the timing on that.”

Translation: Stoops didn’t think he could find a better offensive line coach than Yenser until Wolford lost his job at Alabama when Nick Saban resigned and then he jumped at the chance to bring his friend from Youngstown, Ohio, back to Kentucky again.