The Mark Stoops era at Kentucky came to a close in December, capping off a 13-year run that saw its share of highs, lows, and plenty of sideline shuffling. Stoops left as the winningest coach in school history, but when the curtain fell, it fell hard. Now, as he sits comfortably with a hefty buyout in hand, the ripple effect of his departure is being felt all across the SEC-and beyond.
Because while Stoops may be out of the game (for now), his staff didn’t sit still for long.
Familiar Faces in New Colors
Kentucky fans might want to keep a roster handy this fall-not just for their own team, but for their opponents, too. A surprising number of former Stoops assistants have landed on their feet, and many of them didn’t go far. In fact, several have reemerged on the sidelines of SEC rivals, setting up some intriguing matchups for the Wildcats in 2025.
Let’s start with Brad White, the former defensive coordinator who helped shape Kentucky’s physical, disciplined defense over the past few seasons. White didn’t waste any time finding his next gig, joining forces with another former Wildcat, Jon Sumrall, at Florida.
He’ll be running the Gators’ defense this fall. And he didn’t go alone-defensive backs coach Chris Collins made the jump with him, now coaching safeties in Gainesville.
But Florida isn’t the only SEC program dipping into Kentucky’s coaching pool.
Bush Hamdan, who served as offensive coordinator in Lexington, is now the associate head coach for offense at Mississippi State. Eric Wolford, a name well-known in SEC circles, took over the offensive line at LSU.
L’Damian Washington, who handled wide receivers, is now in the same role at Ole Miss. Derek Shay, formerly tight ends coach, has taken his talents to Texas A&M.
That’s a whole lot of Big Blue know-how now wearing enemy colors.
Where Everyone Landed
Here’s how the 2025 coaching carousel shook out for Stoops’ former staff:
In the SEC:
- Brad White - Florida (Defensive Coordinator)
- Chris Collins - Florida (Safeties)
- Bush Hamdan - Mississippi State (Associate Head Coach for Offense)
- Eric Wolford - LSU (Offensive Line)
- L’Damian Washington - Ole Miss (Wide Receivers)
- Derek Shay - Texas A&M (Tight Ends)
Outside the SEC:
- Mike Hartline - South Florida (Quarterbacks)
- Chase Heuke - Louisville (Director of Recruiting)
- Brad Lambert - Marshall (Defensive Coordinator)
- Jay Boulware - West Virginia (Running Backs)
- Kevin Barbay - Tulsa (Offensive Coordinator)
- Dean Hood - Marshall (Safeties)
- Nate Fuqua - (Co-Defensive Coordinator) (team not specified)
And then there’s Mark Stoops himself-currently unemployed, but certainly not hurting, as he collects his sizable buyout.
A New Era in Lexington
With Stoops and nearly his entire staff out the door, Kentucky football is undergoing a full-scale reset. Enter Will Stein, the new head coach tasked with reshaping the program from the ground up. Stein isn’t just bringing a fresh face-he’s bringing a new philosophy, a modern offensive approach, and a completely overhauled staff.
The only holdover from the Stoops era? Anwar Stewart, who remains on board as a defensive line coach. Outside of that, it’s all new blood in Lexington.
The contrast couldn’t be sharper. Stoops built his legacy on stability and continuity, often leaning on familiar faces and long-term staffers. Stein’s approach is more of a blank slate, and that might be exactly what Kentucky needs heading into a challenging 2025 schedule.
Looking Ahead
Kentucky fans will get used to seeing familiar names on the opposing sidelines this season. Whether it's Brad White drawing up blitz packages for Florida, or Bush Hamdan dialing up plays at Mississippi State, there’s no shortage of former Wildcats now plotting against their old team.
But that’s the nature of the coaching carousel-especially in the SEC, where turnover is constant and rivalries run deep. The Stoops era may be over, but its fingerprints are all over the league. Now, it’s up to Will Stein to carve out his own legacy, one game-and one new identity-at a time.