Louisville made it official Thursday by announcing that longtime University of Kentucky assistant football coach Vince Marrow, 55, has been hired for Jeff Brohm's University of Louisville football staff.
Marrow, who had been with Mark Stoops during his entire 12-year tenure at UK, has signed a three-year contract to become the Executive Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting, overseeing roster management, recruiting and the transfer portal. Terms of the deal were not immediately made available.
The imminent move had been reported on Monday by ESPN's Pete Thamel. Marrow was associate head coach, tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator and NFL liaison for the Wildcats. Brohm and Marrow had developed a friendship in 2001 while teammates with the Orlando Rage of the XFL.
"I'm incredibly excited to work with Jeff Brohm and the University of Louisville football program," Marrow said in a release. "Jeff and I have known each other for over 25 years, I have always admired and respected him and the Brohm family. I love the state of Kentucky - this has become my home. The opportunity to take on this exciting role, in the state where I have so many incredible relationships, was something that I couldn't pass up. I also want to thank the University of Kentucky, Mark Stoops, the administration and the fans.
"I have made lifelong friendships during my time at UK, and I have every desire to keep those relationships. That is one of the reasons I wanted to stay in this state. My hope is that I left the Kentucky football program in a better position than when we started, I will always be grateful for my time there. Ultimately, my goal is to win a national championship. I am very confident that we can accomplish that goal (at U of L), and I can't wait to get started."
There were unconfirmed reports last November at the end of UK's 4-8 season that Brohm had offered Marrow a position on his staff. Marrow, who had signed a three-year contract extension last year through 2026, didn't address the U of L speculation directly, but did confirm in a radio interview that he planned to return to UK in 2025, saying, "There's no doubt in my mind that we're going to get this thing right."
"I am excited to have Vince Marrow join our staff," Brohm said in a statement. "He exemplifies the highest standards of collegiate coaching and recruiting success. His extensive experience, commitment to player development, and exceptional ability to connect with young athletes have made him one of the best in the business. Vince will be a huge asset to the staff."
Stoops said he was thankful for Marrow's contributions.
"As we look to the new season, and a new era of college football, we're focused on the opportunities in hand," he said. "We will continue to build a roster and staff that balances talent, experience, maturity, physicality and the attitude it takes to win in the nation's most competitive conference. I wish my friend and colleague nothing but the best."
On Stoops' staff Marrow was a highly respected key figure in the Wildcats' recruiting efforts. He was interviewed by Bowling Green and Southern Miss for head coaching positions during this offseason and he was also connected with an assistant position on Bill Belicheck's staff at North Carolina.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Marrow played tight end at Youngstown State and Toledo. He was an 11th-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1992 and played on five NFL teams before beginning his coaching career in NFL Europe in 2006-07. Prior to joining Stoops as the tight ends coach at UK in 2013 he also coached at Toledo and Nebraska.
CARDS TO PLAY HOGS IN SEC/ACC CHALLENGE, HOOSIERS IN INDY
Pat Kelsey's second Louisville basketball team has lined up a nonconference schedule that should be even more challenging than last year's slate that included four early-season Top 25 teams in Tennessee, Indiana, Ole Miss and UK, although the Hoosiers dropped out of the rankings after a lopsided loss to the Cardinals and didn't return.
The latest addition to the schedule is a spicy matchup that will be eagerly anticipated. Louisville released Thursday that U of L will take on Arkansas - with head coach John Calipari and former U of L coach Kenny Payne - in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark., on Dec. 3 in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Arkansas, which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season while upsetting Rick Pitino's St. John's team, is ranked No. 10 in ESPN's Way Too Early Top 25, and Louisville is 7th.
Calipari, who suffered only three losses to the Cards during his 15 seasons at UK, hired Payne as his associate head coach when he took over the Razorbacks in the spring of 2024. Payne was fired by U of L at the end of the 2023-24 season after going 12-52 in two years.
The Cards lost last year's Challenge game to Ole Miss 86-63 in the KFC Yum! Center. U of L has confirmed three nonconference games - vs. UK on Nov. 11, vs. Memphis on Dec. 13 and at Tennessee on Dec. 16. The Cards will also reportedly meet IU on Dec. 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and Cincinnati (2 p.m. on CBS) at Heritage Bank Center in the Queen City.
Kentucky assistant coach Vince Marrow makes a point to head coach Mark Stoops in a game last season. Marrow has taken a position on the University of Louisville football staff. (Photo by Les Nicholson)
