Amid reports tying him to Florida State opening, Brad White speaks on UK football future
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Game day: Louisville 41, Kentucky 14
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Interest from powerhouse programs in Kentucky football defensive coordinator Brad White is nothing new.
But amid repeated reports tying him to the Florida State defensive coordinator opening, White sidestepped a question about his future after a season-ending 41-14 loss to Louisville on Saturday.
“It’s a yearly deal,” White said of the most recent rumors connecting him to another job. “Again, it’s more of a testament to what this defensive unit does year in and year out and what this coaching staff does. And so, again, on those deals, I’ve got to sit down and talk with Coach (Mark Stoops) in terms to make sure that this is where I’m safe. We all have to talk.
“Listen, just like the players have to own up to what they’ve done wrong, I’ve got to sit down and I’ve got to get corrected some things that we need to get corrected. And that’s where my focus is. My focus is coming in tomorrow, figuring out how we need to get the roster right, and then throughout the next month or two, figuring out what kind of scheme we need to get right. And hopefully I’ve got the ability to do that here.”
White has served on Stoops’ Kentucky staff since 2018. He was first hired as outside linebackers coach, helping turn Josh Hines-Allen into the national defensive player of the year and a first-round NFL draft pick in his first season on campus.
Stoops then promoted White to defensive coordinator in 2019, and he has called plays for the Wildcat defense since. In four of White’s six seasons as defensive coordinator UK has ranked in the top 26 nationally in fewest points allowed per game and twice ranked in the top 14. In that span, UK has produced nine defensive NFL draft picks and is expected to have two more early round selections in April in defensive tackle Deone Walker and cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
UK has fended off interest in White for high-profile defensive coordinator positions in the past, but the latest rumors come as there is increased pressure on Stoops to make changes after the end of the program’s eight-year bowl streak. White’s defense has proven less effective the last two seasons, dipping to 45th nationally in yards allowed per game in 2023 and 37th this season through 11 games. White’s defense posted one of its worst showings of the season against Louisville, surrendering 486 yards, including 358 on the ground.
The defense has been forced to be close to perfect for long stretches due to offensive struggles though, and it might make sense for White to search for a fresh start elsewhere.
White’s most recent UK contract, signed prior to the 2023 season, pays him $1.6 million this season and $1.7 million next year. He would earn a $150,000 retention bonus if he is still coaching at UK on July 1.
Each time the defensive coordinator job has opened previously in Stoops’ 12-year tenure he has promoted from within on the staff, replacing D.J. Eliot with then special teams coordinator Matt House in 2017 and replacing House with White in 2019. Defensive backs coach Chris Collins was promoted to co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2024 season. Inside linebackers coach Mike Stoops also has extensive defensive coordinator experience and was a head coach at Arizona for eight seasons.
In his post-Louisville news conference, Mark Stoops preached the importance of staff continuity but acknowledged changes might still be coming.
“There may be some organically,” Stoops said. “I mean, there are guys that get opportunities, and we’ll see where that goes or what happens.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2024 at 4:39 PM.
