Kentucky’s new coaching staff is getting younger, and two of its assistants are already earning national notice for it.
Will Stein arrived in Lexington as the SEC’s youngest head coach at 36, and he wasted little time surrounding himself with rising names in the profession. One of the first moves was bringing in Cutter Leftwich to coach the offensive line. At 28, Leftwich already has a strong track record from his time working with Stein at Oregon, where he helped shape the Ducks into Joe Moore Award finalists.
Leftwich’s energy showed up on the practice field this spring, where he pushed his group with a blunt message about accountability and response. “You’ve heard me say, The Standard is The Standard,” Leftwich told the offensive line during a spring practice.
“Well, what is your standard? How good do you wanna be?
You will make mistakes in today’s practice. I will make a mistake in today’s practice.
How will you overcome these mistakes? Is it gonna be the next play mentality?
This play is the most important play, but you can’t let them be able to affect the rest of your practice.”
He’s not the only Kentucky assistant drawing attention. Leftwich and James Gibson were both named to 247’s 30 Under 30 list, which spotlights the fastest-rising coaches in college football over the last decade.
Gibson may be less familiar to some Kentucky fans, but his résumé is building fast. The 29-year-old played for Jay Bateman at Army, then spent five years coaching at his alma mater before following Bateman to College Station.
There, he helped BJ Mayes finish second in interceptions in the SEC last fall. In Lexington, Gibson is coaching the STAR position, and the early buzz around him is loud.
“Gibson is someone multiple sources pointed to as a future coordinator,” 247 wrote. “I think he’s going to be a really good coach for a long time,” a 247 source said.
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Dean also spent 17 years as athletics director at Birmingham-Southern, adding another long chapter to a career built around college sports. Around the SEC, he was widely respected for his steady, upbeat approach and for the way he carried himself with colleagues and fans alike, leaving behind a reputation that matched the era in which he made his name. [Read more 🡒]
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Kentuckys Final Roster Decision Could Define Mark Popes Frontcourt
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The timing matters because the final call is tied to more than just fit on paper. Kohler is being weighed against Mark Mitchell for that last spot, and Mitchells situation remains unresolved while he waits on a court ruling on his eligibility. Until that picture clears up, Kentucky is left balancing immediate roster needs with the possibility that its finishing move in the frontcourt could hinge on whichever path opens first. [Read more 🡒]