Kentucky football is making another key move in reshaping its defensive identity, bringing in Tony Washington Jr. as the Wildcats’ new linebackers coach. It’s a hire that blends coaching pedigree with player development chops - and it adds a familiar face to head coach Will Stein’s growing staff.
Washington and Stein go back to their days at Oregon, where Washington played from 2011-14 and later returned as a rising young coach. From 2021 to 2023, he served in multiple roles on Oregon’s defensive staff, including assistant position coach, giving him a broad perspective on how to build and manage a defense from the ground up. That versatility is part of what makes this hire intriguing for Kentucky.
Before his time in Eugene, Washington got his coaching start at Nebraska as a graduate assistant from 2019 to 2020. He then spent the 2024 season at UCLA, working with the defensive line and outside linebackers - two positions that demand both technical detail and high motor, something Washington brings from his own playing days.
Most recently, he was part of Ohio State’s defensive staff this past fall, assisting with the defensive line. While there, he played a role in developing Arvell Reese, who blossomed into an All-American talent and is now on track to be a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. That kind of résumé - working with elite programs and helping mold NFL-caliber talent - is exactly what Kentucky needs as it looks to elevate its defensive presence in the SEC.
Washington’s credentials as a player are nothing to overlook either. During his time at Oregon, he racked up 158 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks. He was a disruptive force off the edge, and his on-field experience gives him credibility in the room - especially with young players trying to make that same leap.
Now, he walks into a linebackers unit at Kentucky that’s got some potential, assuming the roster stays mostly intact. Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace stood out as a reliable run-stopper and showed flashes as a pass rusher. Lorenzo Cowan came on strong late in his redshirt freshman season, giving the Wildcats another intriguing piece to develop.
But there’s a cloud looming in the form of Steven Soles. The standout edge rusher is reportedly planning to enter the transfer portal - a tough blow for a unit that could use his explosiveness.
Still, Washington’s arrival could be a factor in keeping Soles in Lexington. If anyone can connect with a player like that and show a path forward, it’s a coach who’s been there himself and knows what it takes to reach the next level.
For Stein, this hire checks a lot of boxes: youth, energy, recruiting potential, and a trusted connection from his Oregon days. More importantly, it’s another step toward building a staff that can not only compete in the SEC but develop the kind of talent that makes a difference on Saturdays - and eventually, Sundays.