Kentucky associate HC's departure for in-state rival a concerning omen for Mark Stoops

The 2025 college football season doesn't start for another two months, but Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops has already suffered a major loss.

On Monday, Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow left the program after 12 seasons for the in-state rival Louisville Cardinals, continuing the Wildcats' recent downward trend under Stoops.

Marrow's role at Kentucky can't be understated. He was an instrumental member of the staff that led one of the best extended runs in program history, including two of the four Wildcats' 10-win seasons and four consecutive bowl wins (2018-21), a program record.

A member of Stoops' first staff in 2013, Marrow played a pivotal role in the team's recruiting, including a strong 2014 class that helped spur the program's turnaround after six consecutive losing seasons.

"Vince has been an important part of the growth of our program," Stoops said when announcing a 2015 contract extension.

Marrow received another extension before the 2024 season that was set to last through 2026, worth $1.3 million annually. The Courier Journal noted that the deal made him the second-highest paid assistant on Kentucky's staff, trailing defensive coordinator Brad White ($1.7 million).

Marrow had previously been linked to Louisville but reiterated his commitment to Kentucky in early December, telling Kentucky Sports Radio, "There's no doubt in my mind that we're going to get this thing right."

His departure is an indictment of the direction Kentucky is headed. In 2024, it went 4-8, its worst record since 2013. Things might not improve as Kentucky, already known as a basketball powerhouse, continues to prioritize the hardwood.

Recently, the Wildcats reportedly led a push against putting a cap on how much teams can spend on rosters, depending on the sport, in preparation for the House settlement, the recently approved landmark case against the NCAA that allows schools to directly pay student-athletes, with the aim of investing heavily in their basketball roster.

Kentucky has fallen behind its SEC peers in recent seasons on the gridiron, and losing Marrow won't get it any closer to a revival. Instead, it only makes Stoops' job more difficult ahead of a season in which his future could be at stake.