University of Kentucky Football

The University of Kentucky has hired Allen Brown as the new cornerbacks coach. In his five coaching stops, Brown has coached nine all-conference defensive backs, two freshman All-Americans and two more All-America honorees. Brown comes to the Bluegrass after two seasons on the West Coast, coaching at California in 2025 as the defensive backs coach and 2024 as the cornerbacks coach at Washington State. In 2025, his defensive backs unit helped the Bears rank tied for 16th nationally in fewest touchdown passes allowed. At Washington State in 2024, he tutored Ethan O'Connor who totaled 32 tackles, four interceptions and broke up eight passes as a redshirt freshman. Prior to Washington State, he spent the 2023 season as a quality control coach for defense at Florida. From 2019-21, he was the cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator at his alma mater, Eastern Washington. His coaching career began at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo where he spent four seasons (2015-18) as the cornerbacks coach. Brown's background as a corner at Eastern Washington gives him valuable firsthand insight. He played in 51 career games and totaled 237 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and four interceptions. He was a three-time all-conference selection and was part of the 2010 FCS national championship team as well as FCS Playoff semifinal appearances in 2012 and 2013. The Tacoma, Washington, native, graduated from Eastern Washington in 2014 with a degree in business administration.

Andrew Coverdale joined Will Stein's inaugural staff as the passing game coordinator in 2026. He also works with Justin Burke and the tight ends. He reunited with Stein at Kentucky after first coaching him as a standout quarterback at Trinity High School, bringing their long-standing relationship full circle. Coverdale came to UK after two seasons (2024–25) as the senior offensive analyst at Louisville, where he worked closely with the quarterbacks, most notably current New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough and Miller Moss. The veteran assistant high school coach is well known throughout the region, having won 12 state championships and one national title between his time at Trinity in Louisville, Ky. and St. Xavier in Cincinnati. Serving as the offensive coordinator at Trinity, Coverdale helped lead the Shamrocks to 11 state titles during his 17 seasons, highlighted by a national title in 2011. Stein, who was a quarterback and wide receiver under Coverdale from 2006-07, threw for 3,697 yards and a school record 54 touchdowns, helping lead the Shamrocks to the 2007 state title. Coverdale also oversaw the prep careers of two of the most accurate passing seasons in Trinity history. Cam Smyth completed 74.8 percent of his throws in 2008 and Nick Bohn finished with a 79.9 percent completion rate in 2017. Following his time at Trinity, Coverdale became the offensive coordinator at St. Xavier in Cincinnati, helping the Bombers win two Greater Cincinnati League championships (

Former Wildcat Anwar Stewart enters his sixth season as the defensive line coach for the University of Kentucky football program in 2025. He returned to the Bluegrass after one season as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State in 2019. Stewart is quite familiar with the UK football program after playing linebacker / defensive end from 1996-99 under head coaches Bill Curry and Hal Mumme and having served as a student assistant and defensive assistant under head coach Mark Stoops in 2017 and 2018. He helped UK advance to two bowl games and was an integral part of its 10-3 season in 2018. Over Stewart's combined seven seasons in Lexington, Kentucky has benefited greatly from his defensive direction, while he has been instrumental in helping the program earn four top-five finishes in the SEC, three top-25 finishes in the nation and one top-15 finish in the nation in total defense. Prior to coaching at Kentucky, Stewart honed his defensive skills in the Canadian Football League, spending 13 years in the professional ranks, 11 with the Montreal Alouettes and two with the Calgary Stampeders. He won a Grey Cup with Calgary in 2001 and helped Montreal capture Grey Cups in 2002, 2009 and 2010. He was selected the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2004 and was a CFL All-Star in both 2004 and 2009. He retired in 2013 after racking up 70 career sacks and 10 career interceptions. During his playing days at Kentucky, the Panama City, Florida native totaled 64 tackles, includi

Jay Bateman has been named Kentucky's defensive coordinator. Bateman comes to the Bluegrass after two seasons at Texas A&M, where the Aggies are currently in the College Football Playoffs. Texas A&M finished the 2025 regular season 11-1, the program's most regular season wins since 1992. Bateman's defense was led by SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell. In 2024, Bateman led the Aggies' defense to a top 35 national ranking in tackles for loss and scoring defense. Three Aggie defensive linemen were selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Prior to Texas A&M, Bateman spent two seasons as the inside linebacker coach at Florida (2022-23), where he delivered two NFL Draft picks in his first season. Before that, he spent three seasons as North Carolina's co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach (2019-21), helping engineer major improvements for the Tar Heel defense. Bateman spent five seasons (2014-18) as Army's defensive coordinator, where Army won 29 games highlighted by three bowl victories. He was one of five finalists for the 2018 Broyles Award. Bateman also served as defensive coordinator at Ball State (2011-13) and Elon (2006-10), and gained head coaching experience at Siena College (2000-03). He played linebacker at Randolph-Macon, a Division III program, and earned a degree in political science in 1995.

Joe Price III is in his first season at Kentucky as the wide receivers coach. Price arrived in the Bluegrass after spending the last six seasons at UTSA, including the last three seasons as the associate head coach, pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Roadrunners. In 2020 and 2021, he was the director of player personnel at UTSA, then in 2022 he was elevated to wide receivers coach. In 2023, he tacked on two more titles, including associate head coach and pass game coordinator. During Price’s time in San Antonio the Roadrunners have enjoyed the most successful six-year run in program history with a 52-26 overall record, including a 35-12 regular season league mark, two conference championships and six straight bowl appearances. The Roadrunners finished the 2025 regular season at 6-6 overall, 4-4 in the American Conference and are currently preparing to face Florida International in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas and on ESPN. Price has helped UTSA have one of the top-scoring offenses in the FBS, averaging 33.7 points per game. He has five wide receivers with 25 or more catches, including junior Devin McCuin who leads the team with 59 receptions for 653 yards and seven scores. In 2024, Price’s wide receivers helped UTSA produce 5,882 total yards, the third-best season mark in school history and an average of 451.2 yards per game, which ranked 12th in the FBS. The Roadrunners scored 431 points (33.2 ppg) and their air attack

Joe Sloan was named Kentucky's offensive coordinator in 2026, joining Will Stein's inaugural staff. Sloan, 39, joins the Bluegrass program after four years at LSU, where he was instrumental in shaping Jayden Daniels' trajectory toward winning the Heisman Trophy and later earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2024, he was elevated to offensive coordinator, and in his first season, the Tigers ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in passing offense, averaging 315.2 yards per game. Sloan's development of Nussmeier went a long way in having the best season statistically for a first-year starter in program history. Sloan's impact on the development of LSU quarterbacks was evident in 2023 when Daniels had one of the most spectacular seasons in school history on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. Prior to LSU, Sloan spent nine seasons at Louisiana Tech, where the Bulldogs appeared in seven bowl games and won at least nine games four times. During his time in Ruston, Sloan oversaw the development of some of the program's top offensive threats, with 31 Bulldogs on the offensive side earning all-conference honors. Sloan got his start in coaching at South Florida and played football at East Carolina from 2005-08 as a backup quarterback and holder on placekicks. A Chester, Virginia, native, Sloan is married to the former Taylor Thomas and has two daughters, Whitley and Lottie.

Josh Christian-Young has been named the program's new safeties coach at Kentucky. Christian-Young, known for his expertise in defensive back play, joins head coach Will Stein's staff after two seasons in the same position at Houston, where the Cougars' defense ranked 19th nationally in red zone defense and 37th in defensive efficiency. Prior to Houston, Christian-Young coached four seasons as the defensive backs coach at Tulane (2020-23), where in 2023 his unit intercepted a league-high 17 passes ranking third nationally, and the Green Wave ranked 19th nationally in scoring defense. He also served on the Army West Point defensive staff for five seasons (2015-19), helping lead the Black Knights to three straight bowl wins and two Commander-in-Chief's Trophies. Christian-Young served as the cornerbacks coach at Georgia Southern from 2013-14, where the Eagles won the 2014 Sun Belt Championship. He was a strong safety at Central Missouri from 2006-10 where he played under Willie Fritz, and earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in sociology, along with a master's degree in higher education administration from Georgia Southern. He and his wife Kristin have a daughter, Adalyn, and a son, Nolan.

Justin Burke, formerly the UTSA offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has been named the tight ends coach for the University of Kentucky football team. Burke returns to his hometown after six seasons on the UTSA staff, where he steadily ascended through the program's ranks. He began his tenure in 2020 as an offensive analyst before earning a promotion to associate head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in 2022. In 2023, he was elevated to offensive coordinator and added quarterbacks coach to his responsibilities ahead of the 2024 season. During Burke's time in San Antonio, the Roadrunners enjoyed the most successful six-year run in program history with a 52-26 overall record, 35-12 regular-season league mark, two conference championships, and six bowl appearances with three straight bowl wins. Burke played quarterback at Louisville (2008-10) and North Carolina State (2006-08), was a two-year letterman and started eight games at Louisville. He was a three-time All-Big East Academic Team honoree and 2006 All-ACC Academic Team honoree. The Lexington, Kentucky native was a standout quarterback for Lexington Catholic (2002-05), named Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky in 2005, and threw for a state record 62 touchdowns. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting in 2009 and MBA in 2011, both from Louisville.

Former NFL running back Kolby Smith is in his first season at Kentucky as the running backs coach. Smith comes to the Bluegrass after two seasons as the running backs coach at Arkansas. In 2025, under Smith's tutelage, senior running back Mike Washington Jr. earned All-SEC Second Team honors after rushing 167 times for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns. The Razorbacks produced one of the best offenses in the nation and in school history in Smith's first season in 2024, ranking 10th nationally in total offense. Prior to Arkansas, Smith served four seasons (2020-23) on the staff of the Miami Dolphins, working with the team's running backs. Before his jump to the professional ranks, Smith spent seven seasons as a college assistant at Rutgers, Louisville and Western Kentucky. As a player at Louisville, Smith helped the Cardinals to a 12-1 record in 2006 and was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He graduated from Louisville in May 2007 with a degree in sports administration.

Nate Dodson comes to the Bluegrass after serving the last two seasons (2024-25) as the assistant tight ends coach at LSU. He was instrumental in the development of Trey'Dez Green, who totaled 46 receptions for 534 yards and 11 scores during that time. Prior to LSU, Dodson spent two seasons on the coaching staff at Colorado. He was named the interim quarterbacks coach midway through the 2022 season before being elevated to assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023. In 2023, Dodson tutored starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders who completed 298 of 430 passes (69.3 percent) for 3,230 yards and 31 total touchdowns (27 passing and four rushing). He was later selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. From 2019-21, Dodson was an offensive graduate assistant for the Minnesota Gophers, working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. He was responsible for opponent film breakdown, film project development and all advanced opponent personnel scouting in addition to numerous responsibilities during games. During that time, he worked with quarterback Tanner Morgan and wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson. Morgan posted a 33-14 record as a starter for the Gophers from 2018-22 and completed 661 passes (second most in school history) of 1,063 attempts (second most in school history) for 9,454 yards (second most in school history). Before Minnesota, he spent two seasons gaining experience as an equipment intern with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. The Los A

Pat Biondo comes to Kentucky after spending four years at Oregon as the director of football recruiting strategy, where he helped bring in four consecutive top-15 ranked recruiting classes, including the No. 3 class in 2024. Prior to Oregon, he spent three seasons at Texas A&M as the senior assistant of recruiting and operations, assisting in bringing in three classes ranked in the top 10, with the 2019 class reaching No. 4. Biondo's athletic career began at his alma mater, West Virginia, where he spent nine years on the staff of the women's basketball team in various roles including video coordinator, special assistant to the head coach, and director of basketball operations. A native of Clarence, New York, Biondo graduated from WVU in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in athletic coaching and obtained a master's degree in educational leadership from the College of Human Resources and Education at WVU.

Pete Nochta is in his first season on Will Stein's staff as the assistant general manager. Nochta joined the Kentucky Football program in 2026 after 10 seasons at Louisville, where he served as the director of recruiting for the last four years, recruiting notable players such as wide receiver Tutu Atwell, offensive lineman Mehki Becton, wide receiver Chris Bell, tight end Cole Hikutini and defensive back Quincy Riley. Prior to his recruiting role, he was director of high school relations and director of on-campus recruiting, and began as a graduate assistant for tight ends in 2014. He also served as a graduate assistant at Purdue and Western Kentucky, and as offensive quality control coach at Purdue. During his coaching career, Nochta helped develop several NFL players including Hikutini, Keith Towbridge, Charles Standberry, Gerald Christian, Tyler Higbee, Mitchell Henry and Gabe Holmes. He was a tight end for Louisville from 2006-10, a teammate of Stein, and a member of the 2007 Orange Bowl squad, playing in 35 career games with 11 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He earned All-BIG EAST Academic honors four times and graduated in 2010 with a business administration degree. His father, John, was a UK football letterwinner from 1973-76 and later head coach at Bryan Station High School. Nochta overcame Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015 and remains in remission.

Tony Washington Jr. is in his first season as Kentucky’s edges/outside linebackers coach. Washington comes to Kentucky after spending the 2025 season at Ohio State as the assistant defensive line coach. At Ohio State, Washington Jr. played an integral role in a Buckeyes defense that has ranked nationally either No. 1 or No. 2 in nine different categories, including No. 1 in scoring defense (9.3), passing yards (129.7), and red zone scores (67.00). Anchored by first-team All-American and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, Kayden McDonald, whose development was heavily shaped by Washington Jr., the Buckeyes established themselves as one of the nation’s most dominant defensive units this season. Prior to Ohio State, Washington Jr. was an assistant coach working with the defensive line and outside linebackers in 2024 at UCLA. In that season, he helped the Bruins’ defense finish No. 6 nationally in rushing defense, limiting the opponent to just 96.2 yards per game. UCLA also ranked No. 39 nationally with 340.8 yards allowed per game, despite playing the fifth-toughest strength of schedule in the country. Under his tutelage, defensive tackle Jay Toia earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Washington Jr. also worked with defensive end Oluwafemi Oladejo, who was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Oladejo l