Will Stein is still assembling his first coaching staff at Kentucky, and his latest addition brings deep ties to football in the Bluegrass State. Andrew Coverdale is set to become the Wildcats’ Pass Game Coordinator - a move that not only reunites him with Stein but also adds a seasoned offensive mind who knows the Commonwealth as well as anyone.
Coverdale has spent the last two seasons as an offensive analyst on Jeff Brohm’s staff at Louisville, but his roots in Kentucky football run much deeper. He was Stein’s offensive coordinator in high school, and his résumé includes a dominant 17-year run calling plays for Louisville Trinity, where he helped guide the program to 11 state championships. That kind of sustained success at the high school level doesn't happen without a sharp football mind and a knack for developing talent.
After his time at Trinity, Coverdale took his playbook north to Cincinnati St. Xavier, where he continued to make an impact.
In 2020, he helped lead the Blue Bombers to a state title - another feather in the cap for a coach who’s proven he can win wherever he goes. He also spent time as head coach at Castle High School in Indiana from 2006 to 2008 and held a college assistant role at Taylor University earlier in his career.
Coverdale holds a degree from LSU and earned his master’s from the University of the Cumberlands in 2018.
This isn’t just a reunion between two former colleagues - it’s a strategic move by Stein to bring in someone who knows how to build a passing game from the ground up. Coverdale’s experience, both in developing quarterbacks and scheming up successful aerial attacks, gives Kentucky another layer of depth as it looks to modernize its offense under the new regime.
Interestingly, Coverdale is now the fourth former Louisville Cardinal to join the Kentucky staff this offseason, joining Kolby Smith (running backs), Justin Burke (tight ends), and Pete Nochta (assistant general manager). That’s a lot of red turning blue, but for Stein, it’s less about the rivalry and more about relationships.
“Is there a big rivalry? Of course,” Stein said Monday. “But I’m still their teammate and their friend, and have had an outpouring of support from former players, even people that have worked there prior or even are associated with that program just because of my relationship with them.”
It’s a telling quote from a coach who’s clearly building his staff with trust and familiarity in mind - not just resumes. And while Coverdale’s addition is a significant one, it won’t be the last. Expect two or three more names to be added soon, likely focused on bolstering Kentucky’s recruiting department.
Here’s a look at where the 2026 Kentucky coaching staff currently stands:
Offense
- Joe Sloan: Offensive Coordinator
- Derek Warehime: Run Game Coordinator
- Kolby Smith: Running Backs
- Joe Price III: Wide Receivers
- Justin Burke: Passing Game, Tight Ends
- Nate Dodson: Assistant Quarterbacks
- Dallas Warmack: Assistant Offensive Line Coach
- Cutter Leftwich: Offensive Line
Defense
- Jay Bateman: Defensive Coordinator
- Anwar Stewart: Defensive Line
- Tony Washington Jr.: Pass Rushers
- Allen Brown: Cornerbacks
- Ty Holder: Cornerbacks
- Chad Wilt: Linebackers
- Josh Christian-Young: Safeties
- Trey Odom: Safeties
- James Gibson: Nickels
Special Teams
- Parker Fleming: Special Teams, Inside Receivers
- Jack Ray: Special Teams
Support Staff
- Pete Nochta: Assistant General Manager
With Coverdale now on board, Kentucky’s offensive brain trust is starting to take shape. His track record of success and his long-standing connection with Stein make him a natural fit as the Wildcats look to turn the page and build something new in Lexington.