What just happened in the world of Kentucky football isn’t just a missed opportunity-it’s the kind of moment that could echo through the program for years. Jon Sumrall, a former Wildcat and one of the fastest-rising names in the coaching ranks, is heading to Gainesville to take over the Florida Gators. And while that’s a big win for Florida, it’s a gut punch for Big Blue Nation.
Let’s back up. Sumrall isn’t just another hot coaching prospect.
He’s one of Kentucky’s own-a former team captain under Rich Brooks, a linebacker who lined up next to Wesley Woodyard, and a coach who helped build the foundation of the modern Kentucky defense under Mark Stoops. He was a relentless recruiter in the South and a key piece of the staff before taking over at Troy.
And even after accepting the Troy job, he came back to help the Wildcats secure a tenth win in the Citrus Bowl. That’s the kind of loyalty and leadership that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet-but it matters.
Then he started winning. Big.
In his first year at Troy, Sumrall led the team to 12 wins and a Sun Belt title. Off the field, he honored Kentucky roots by raising funds to name the offensive line meeting room after the late John Schlarman, a beloved figure in Lexington and a symbol of the “Big Blue Wall” that defined Stoops’ best teams.
Now, in just his fourth season as a head coach, Sumrall is preparing for yet another conference title game. The man has proven he can lead, he can win, and he can build culture. And now, instead of doing that in Lexington, he’ll be doing it in the same office once held by Steve Spurrier.
The man who hired him? Scott Stricklin-a former Mitch Barnhart staffer.
That’s the sting. Because while Barnhart deserves credit for hiring Mark Stoops, the coach who finally flipped the Florida series and gave Kentucky fans something to cheer about in the SEC, he also deserves the blame for not acting sooner when the program clearly needed a change.
Let’s be clear: Stoops’ tenure has brought undeniable progress. The Cats broke a 31-game losing streak to Florida in 2018 and have since won five of the last eight matchups, including four of the last five.
That’s no small feat. But college football is a “what’s next” business, and in a 5-7 season where the momentum had clearly stalled, Kentucky had a chance to reset.
Sumrall was ready. The door was open.
And the Wildcats didn’t walk through it.
If that sounds harsh, take a look around the SEC. In 2015, Georgia made a bold move-firing Mark Richt, a coach who was winning 10 games a year, to make room for Kirby Smart.
At the time, it raised eyebrows. Now?
Two national championships and three SEC titles later, nobody’s questioning it.
That’s the kind of aggressive, forward-thinking decision-making it takes to thrive in the most competitive conference in college football. Kentucky had its moment.
Twice. Once after Stoops flirted with Texas A&M in 2023, and again after this year’s disappointing campaign.
Both times, Sumrall was right there, waiting in the wings.
Now, he’s wearing orange and blue.
Will he turn Florida into a powerhouse again? That remains to be seen.
But what’s clear is this: Kentucky had a chance to bring home a coach who understood the program, had the résumé, and was ready to lead. Instead, fans are left wondering what could’ve been.
This wasn’t just a missed hire. It was a missed moment. And in the SEC, those don’t come around often.