‘Big Dog’ sticking with the Cats: Vince Marrow turns down job with hometown college
University of Kentucky associate head football coach Vince Marrow is not leaving UK to become the head coach at Youngstown State University.
Marrow’s name this week was linked to YSU, whose head coaching position became available Monday when former head coach Bo Pelini was announced as the new defensive coordinator at LSU. Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, citing an unnamed source, reported that Marrow met with YSU officials about the opening Friday.
Marrow tweeted Friday night that he is staying at UK.
“Hey BBN I love and appreciate you guys more than you know! It’s been a pleasure working for UK fans across the country. That said my desire to stay in the Commonwealth is greater than my desire to return to Youngstown and be Head Coach. Thanks for the respect & consideration,” he said.
Officials within the school that the Herald-Leader spoke with throughout the week felt confident about retaining Marrow, who agreed to a new contract last January but could have it amended before the 2020 season. He was set to earn $600,000 from Jan. 7, 2019, through June 30 of this year, and is set to receive annual raises of $25,000 in each of the next two seasons.
Marrow has been a member of Mark Stoops’ staff at UK since Stoops was hired ahead of the 2013 season. Both men are Youngstown natives and played football together at Cardinal Mooney High School; Marrow started his collegiate playing career at Youngstown State before finishing his eligibility at Toledo.
In 2014 Marrow became UK’s recruiting coordinator, and Kentucky in his tenure has become a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail.
UK’s recruiting class in 2012 — the last under head coach Joker Phillips — ranked 50th in the country, according to both 247Sports and Rivals. Under Stoops and Marrow, the lowest-ranked class Kentucky has signed was in 2015 (38th by 247Sports), and each of the Wildcats’ last four signing classes were ranked in the top 30 by at least one of the two services. The 2020 class, which could finish with a couple more additions next week and is considered by some to be the best in UK history, is currently ranked 21st by Rivals and 23rd by 247Sports.
Of the 50 highest-ranked players to sign with Kentucky since 2000, per 247Sports’ rankings, 36 were members of signing classes during Stoops’ tenure. Eight of them — defensive end Sam Anaele, defensive tackles Justin Rogers and Tre’vonn Rybka, offensive linemen Deondre Buford, Jeremy Flax and John Young, running back Jutahn McClain and defensive back Joel Williams — signed in December during the early signing period for class of 2020 recruits.
Marrow has coached tight ends for the entirety of his tenure in Lexington, and also holds the title of NFL liaison. Before coming to UK he was a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Nebraska for two seasons. He coached tight ends at Toledo in 2008, a stint sandwiched between a couple jobs with pro franchises in NFL Europe and a one-year stop as head coach at Holland High School in Springfield, Ohio.
The Buffalo Bills drafted Marrow out of Toledo in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He spent parts of eight seasons with the Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.
