As Will Stein continues assembling his first coaching staff at Kentucky, he wasted no time trying to make a bold move-one that would’ve sent a message across the state. His target? A key piece of the Louisville staff: defensive backs coach Steve Ellis.
According to reports, Stein made a serious push to lure Ellis to Lexington. But Ellis didn’t bite.
He turned down the offer and chose to stay put with the Cardinals. And that decision didn’t just stay behind closed doors-it sparked a public response that lit up the rivalry in a way only Kentucky-Louisville can.
Enter Vince Marrow. The longtime Kentucky assistant, now rocking red and black, didn’t waste a second letting everyone know how he felt. Marrow, who earned the nickname “Big Dawg” during his time in Lexington, took to social media with a not-so-subtle reminder of where he thinks the power lies in the Bluegrass State:
“Don’t mess with the Big Dawg. He knows we own the state. The best DB coach in college football.”
That’s not just trash talk-it’s a shot across the bow. And coming from a guy who helped build Kentucky’s recruiting identity for years, it hits differently now that he’s on the other sideline.
Here’s the thing: it’s hard to argue with him right now. Louisville has outscored Kentucky 82-14 over the last two meetings.
That includes a 41-0 beatdown in Louisville-a game where Kentucky had everything on the line and still came up empty. That loss wasn’t just painful-it was pivotal.
It helped seal the fate of Mark Stoops, who was coaching for his job and didn’t survive the fallout.
Now, Stoops is gone, and Marrow-his right-hand man for over a decade-is celebrating from the other side. Kentucky, meanwhile, is trying to reset under Stein, and the early returns in the rivalry aren’t exactly encouraging.
But Stein isn’t standing still. After missing on Ellis, Kentucky pivoted quickly, bringing in Josh Christian-Young from Houston to help lead the defensive backfield. Whether he ends up coaching just the safeties or the full DB room, one thing’s certain: every move he makes will be measured against what’s happening 70 miles west in Louisville.
This isn’t just about coaching hires. It’s about bragging rights, recruiting battles, and who gets to claim they run the state. And right now, Louisville has the scoreboard-and the swagger-to back it up.
Make no mistake, Stein will have his chances to fire back. But if this week is any indication, the rivalry is already heating up again. And neither side seems interested in turning down the volume.