Things might have quieted down on the Kentucky football front in terms of on-field action, but behind the scenes, Will Stein and his staff are staying busy-and strategic. The Wildcats are continuing to build out their football infrastructure, making key additions that speak to a clear vision: bringing high-level experience and proven football minds into Lexington.
Jerret McElwain Joins as Director of Player Personnel
The latest addition to that vision is Jerret McElwain, who is stepping in as Kentucky’s Director of Player Personnel. It’s a pivotal front-office role, one that will see McElwain working closely with General Manager Pat Biondo and Assistant GM Pete Nochta to manage the Wildcats’ roster-recruiting, retention, and everything in between.
McElwain’s resume reads like a tour of elite college football programs. Most recently, he served under Kalen DeBoer at Alabama as an Assistant Director of Player Personnel.
That stint followed time with DeBoer at Washington, where McElwain helped shape rosters that competed at the highest level. His roots in the personnel game run deep-he got his start back in 2014 as a student assistant at Alabama, where his father, Jim McElwain, had once served as the Tide’s offensive coordinator.
He’s also no stranger to the Big Ten, having made a name for himself in Jim Harbaugh’s scouting department at Michigan. That kind of cross-conference, high-level experience brings a valuable perspective to Kentucky’s recruiting and roster management strategy. McElwain’s arrival is another sign that Stein is building a staff with real pedigree-people who’ve been in the rooms where big-time football decisions get made.
Coaching Carousel: One Out, Four In
McElwain isn’t the only new face around the Kentucky football program. The staff is in motion, with both departures and arrivals shaping the 2026 coaching lineup.
Derek Warehime, who was brought on in December to serve as run game coordinator and assistant to offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich, is heading to the NFL. After three seasons coaching the offensive line at Coastal Carolina, Warehime is making the leap to the pros, joining the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant offensive line coach.
It’s a move that echoes Jemal Singleton’s brief 2021 stint with Kentucky before he left for the Philadelphia Eagles. Sometimes, the NFL just calls.
To offset that loss, Kentucky has officially announced the addition of three new assistant coaches and a graduate assistant-each bringing their own unique background to the Wildcats’ evolving staff.
- Dallas Warmack is coming in as an assistant offensive line coach. A former Alabama and Oregon offensive lineman, Warmack brings SEC playing experience and a strong understanding of what it takes to win in the trenches.
- Tommy Shuler, a former standout wide receiver at Marshall, will now coach that same position group in Lexington.
Known for his precision and production as a player, Shuler’s transition to coaching has been closely watched, and Kentucky is betting on his ability to connect with and elevate young receivers.
- Keith Towbridge, a familiar name for Wildcats fans, returns to the program as an assistant running backs coach. The former Kentucky tight end brings both SEC experience and NFL knowledge to the staff room, offering a valuable perspective to the backfield.
- Brandon Schnapp joins as a graduate assistant working with the wide receivers. He previously worked under Joe Sloan at LSU, and now reunites with Sloan in Lexington. Graduate assistants often fly under the radar, but they’re the glue guys of a coaching staff-and Schnapp’s experience in a high-powered SEC offense makes him a strong addition.
The 2026 Kentucky Coaching Staff: A Closer Look
With all the movement, here’s how the full Kentucky coaching staff is shaping up heading into 2026:
- Joe Sloan - Offensive Coordinator
- Jay Bateman - Defensive Coordinator
- Cutter Leftwich - Offensive Line
- Kolby Smith - Running Backs
- Joe Price III - Wide Receivers
- Josh Christian-Young - Safeties
- Anwar Stewart - Defensive Line
- Tony Washington Jr - Pass Rushers
- Allen Brown - Cornerbacks
- Justin Burke - Passing Game, Tight Ends
- Parker Fleming - Special Teams, Inside Receivers
- Nate Dodson - Assistant Quarterbacks
- Ty Holder - Cornerbacks
- Chad Wilt - Linebackers
- Trey Odom - Safeties
- James Gibson - Nickels
- Jack Ray - Special Teams
- Dallas Warmack - Assistant Offensive Line Coach
- Andrew Coverdale - Pass Game Coordinator
- Keith Towbridge - Assistant Running Backs Coach
- Tommy Shuler - Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
- Pat Biondo - General Manager
- Pete Nochta - Assistant General Manager
- Jerret McElwain - Director of Player Personnel
- Yusuf Corker - Graduate Assistant, Defense
- Bunchy Stallings - Graduate Assistant, Defensive Line
- Paul Rodriguez - Graduate Assistant, Offensive Line
- Brandon Schnapp - Graduate Assistant, Wide Receivers
This is a staff that blends SEC experience, NFL connections, and youthful energy. Will Stein may be relatively new at the helm, but he’s surrounding himself with a group that knows how to build, develop, and compete.
The infrastructure is in place. Now it’s about turning that into wins on Saturdays.