(IMAGE: Vince Marrow, provided by UK Athletics)
It’s been nearly 3 days since the news first broke that Kentucky Associate Head Coach, Vince Marrow, took the job to join the rival in-state program, Louisville. New was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Monday evening, with no official word from either school backing that up since that report.
Many days have went by and things have been very silent. On both sides. It’s now Thursday afternoon and Pete Thamel has put out an official statement from Vince on his decision to make this job change.
“I am incredibly excited to work with Jeff Brohm and the University of Louisville football program! Jeff and I have known each other for over 25 years, I have always admired and respected him and the Brohm family…
I also love the state of Kentucky, this has become my home. The opportunity to take on this new and exciting role, in the state where I have so many incredible relationships, was something that I couldn’t pass up…
I also want to thank the University of Kentucky, Mark Stoops, the administration and the fans. I have made lifelong friendships during my time at UK, and I have every desire to keep those relationships. That is one of the reasons I wanted to stay in this state. My hope is that I left the Kentucky football program in a better position than when we started, I will always be grateful for my time there.
Ultimately, my goal at the University of Louisville is to win a national championship. I am very confident that we can accomplish that goal and I can’t wait to get started!”
Pete Thamel says Vince’s official title in his new role will be ‘Executive Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting’ for the Cards.
In Louisville’s report above, head coach Jeff Brohm said this on the addition of Marrow: “I am excited to have Vince Marrow join our staff. He exemplifies the highest standards of collegiate coaching and recruiting success. His extensive experience, commitment to player development, and exceptional ability to connect with young athletes have made him one of the best in the business. Vince will be a huge asset to the staff.”
In an unexpected turn of events, Mark Stoops now no longer has his once right-hand-man who helped him build the Kentucky football program back to great heights throughout their tenure together, picking it up off the floor and making it into a respected establishment in the college football landscape. This move by Marrow will essentially ruin all love he has built up in the city of Lexington over the years through his hard work, relationship building, and simply just “going to work” day in and day out through grit and perseverance. All of that is now crumbled and will be quickly forgotten as he takes on his new journey.
The decision to take a position at Louisville is seemingly the worst thing you can do to the UK football program, its fans, and your longtime friend (Stoops) who have all supported you greatly for over a decade, all for your selfish gain. Yes, the Kentucky football program is in a bad place currently but his own employment around the program was never in jeopardy and it’s clear this move was to give him multiple more years of job security, but he didn’t read the (very obvious) room before making his decision because this is one of the two jobs you do not take if you are a Wildcat.
His quote of, “I’ve made lifelong friendships during my time at UK, and I have every desire to keep those relationships. That is one of the reasons I wanted to stay in this state,” is extremely clear evidence that he has no idea what he’s gotten himself into by joining the rival program because those UK relationships (fanwise) will not be kept. All you have to do is read his social media replies to find that out.
He’s made his bed and he’s now got to sleep in it, and Kentucky’s on its way to finding his replacement as the season begins in just three months.
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