< PreviousKentucky Offense LT73Shiyazh Pete(6-8, 322, Sr.) 71Malachi Wood(6-8, 328, So.) LG75Joshua Braun(6-6, 342, Gr.) 53 AbeSelm(6-4, 323, RFr.) C62Jager Burton(6-4, 323, Sr.) 58Evan Wibberley(6-5, 304, Jr.) RG52Jalen Farmer(6-5, 318, Jr.) 79Jay Clark(6-4, 325, Fr.) RT50Alex Wollschlaeger(6-7, 311, Gr.) 69Darrin Strey(6-7, 322, Fr.) WR (X)17 Hardley Gilmore IV(6-1, 183, So.) OR 4J.J. Hester(6-5, 203, Gr.) 7DJ Miller(6-3, 204, Fr.) WR (F) 1Kendrick Law(6-0, 205, Sr.) OR 0Troy Stellato(6-1, 184, Sr.) 19Montavin Quisenberry(5-10, 170, Fr.) WR (Z)13 Fred Farrier II(6-1, 188, Sr.) OR 9Ja’Mori Maclin(5-11, 191, Sr.) 22Cameron Miller(5-11, 167, Fr.) TE (Y)84Josh Kattus(6-4, 247, Sr.) 87 Henry Boyer(6-6, 265, Jr.) OR 85Elijah Brown(6-6, 258, Jr.) TE (F)81Willie Rodriguez(6-4, 252, So.) 18Mikkel Skinner(6-4, 231, Fr.) QB 5Zach Calzada(6-4, 230, Gr.) 8Cutter Boley(6-5, 220, RFr.) RB 2Dante Dowdell(6-2, 227, Jr.) OR 3Seth McGowan(6-1, 215, Sr.) 26Jason Patterson(5-10, 209, RFr.) Kentucky Defense DE 90Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace(6-4, 270, Jr.) 95Jerod Smith II(6-4, 275, So.) NG60David Gusta(6-3, 317, Sr.) 97Josaih Hayes(6-3, 322, Sr.) DT92Kahlil Saunders(6-5, 293, Sr.) 94Tavion Gadson(6-5, 298, So.) OLB 2Sam Greene(6-2, 248, So.) 35Steven Soles Jr.(6-2, 235, So.) OR 1Kam Olds(6-4, 252, Sr.) MLB 7Daveren Rayner(6-2, 217, Sr.) 22Grant Godfrey(6-3, 234, So.) OR 9Landyn Watson(6-1, 242, Sr.) WLB 3Alex Afari Jr.(6-2, 227, Sr.) 44Antwan Smith(6-3, 215, So.) Nickel12Quay’sheed Scott(6-0, 196, So.) OR 24Jaden Smith(6-3, 208, RFr.) OR 10Jantzen Dunn(6-0, 185, Sr.) FCB 5DJ Waller Jr.(6-3, 203, Jr.) 19 Kevis Thomas(6-0, 181, Jr.) BCB 6 JQ Hardaway(6-3, 193, Sr.) 20Terhyon Nichols(5-11, 198, So.) SS14 Ty Bryant(6-0, 198, Jr.) 18Cam Dooley(6-2, 208, So.) FS25 Jordan Lovett(6-2, 208, Sr.) 4 Martels Carter Jr.(6-0, 200, Fr.) Kentucky Special Teams K91 Jacob Kauwe(6-1, 212, RFr.) 97Zach Schreiner(6-0, 181, Gr.) KO48Aidan Laros(6-2, 218, Sr.) 97Zach Schreiner(6-0, 181, Gr.) P48Aidan Laros(6-2, 218, Sr.) 93Wilson Berry(6-4, 214, Sr.) LS42Alex McLaughlin(5-10, 228, Sr.) 59David LaGanga(6-0, 212, Jr.) SS42Alex McLaughlin(5-10, 228, Sr.) 59David LaGanga(6-0, 212, Jr.) H93Wilson Berry(6-4, 214, Sr.) 48Aidan Laros(6-2, 218, Sr.) KOR 1Kendrick Law(6-0, 205, Sr.) 12Quay’sheed Scott(6-0, 196, So.) PR14Ty Bryant(6-0, 198, Jr.) 0Troy Stellato(6-1, 184, Sr.) Toledo Offense LT65Stephen Gales (6-6, 301, Jr.) 55Ibrahim Traore (6-5, 305, Sr.) LG66Carter Fouty (6-4, 308, Sr.) 73Jonathan Harder (6-4, 334, Jr.) C52Anthony Boswell (6-2, 295, Jr.) 60Jake Grimm(6-4, 305, RFr.) RG72Ethan Spoth(6-4, 310, Jr.) 63Grant Zimmerly (6-4, 302, So.) RT74Cole Rhett (6-7, 310, So.) 76Dominic Rivera (6-8, 335, So.) TE89Jacob Petersen (6-4, 245, Sr.) 85CC Ezirim (6-7, 245, Jr.) QB4Tucker Gleason (6-3, 245, Sr.) 6John Alan Richter (6-3, 233, Jr.) RB1Chip Trayanum (5-11, 225, Sr.) 10Kenji Christian (6-2, 200, Sr.) WR19Terrell Crosby, Jr. (5-10, 178, Jr.) 81Eric Holley III(6-2, 210, Sr.) WR 2Junior Vandeross III (5-8, 181, Sr.) 33Bryson Hammer (5-11, 186, So.) WR 9Trayvon Rudolph(5-10, 185, Sr.) 84Thomas Zsiros(6-3, 220, Sr.) Toledo Defense OLB 9 Louce Julien(6-2, 260, Sr.) 58Anthony Dunn(6-4, 262, Sr.) DT90Esean Carter (6-2, 285, Sr.) 99Travion Ford (6-4, 250, Sr.) DT59Martez Poynter (6-4, 290, Sr.) 97Doran Ray (6-2, 286, Sr.) DE93Malachi Davis (6-4, 255, Jr.) 97Avery Dunn (6-4, 250, Sr.) LB49Chris D’Appolonia (6-3, 240, So.) 44Isaac Zay (6-4, 239, RFr.) LB38K’Von Sherman (6-2, 236, Jr.) 37Damon Ollison (6-0, 222, Sr.) CB 3Andre Fuller (6-2, 202, Sr.) 13Andrew Wilson-Lamp (6-3, 186, Sr.) S26Braden Awls (6-0, 196, Jr.) 22Nicholas Thompson(6-2, 198, So.) S7Emmanuel McNeil-Warren(6-2, 202, Sr.) 3Jaden Dottin (6-2, 200, Sr.) Nickel21Nasir Bowers (5-9, 182, Sr.) 23Tyler McKinstry(5-9, 180, So.) CB12Avery Smith(5-10, 185, Sr.) 17Amare Snowden (6-4, 210, So.) Toledo Special Teams PK45Dylan Cunanan (5-10, 160, So.) 37Robert Hammond(6-1, 165, So.) P36Emilo Duran (6-0, 195, Jr.) 39Anthony Ruggles (5-9, 191, Fr.) H36Emilo Duran(6-0, 185, Jr.) LS40James Roe(6-0, 195, So.) 47Matthew Bailey (6-2, 220, Sr.) KR9Trayvon Rudolph (5-10, 187, Sr.) 19Terrell Crosby, Jr. (5-10, 182, Jr.) PR33Bryson Hammer (5-11, 175, So.) 21Julian Allen(6-1, 188, So.) 18 n @UKFootball Kentucky vs.Toledo KENTUCKY FOOTBALLT he longest-termed coach in Kentucky history and having the longest term of any current coach in the Southeastern Con- ference, Mark Stoops looks to add to his leg- acy of success entering his 13th season with the Wildcats in 2025. Stoops holds school records for wins (67), home wins (47), SEC wins (31) and wins over ranked opponents (12). Last season’s victory at No. 6 Ole Miss was fifth straight season that his Wildcats had knocked off a ranked opponent, yet another school re- cord. In addition to the records listed above, a partial accounting of Stoops’ exploits fea- tures: n Seven bowl appearances n A school-record, 16-game win streak against nonconference competition (2018- 22), which was the nation’s longest active streak at the time. n First top-10 ranking in each the Associ- ated Press poll and the coaches’ poll since 2007 (Sept. 11, 2022) n First consecutive top-10 rankings in each poll since 1977 (Sept. 18, 2022) n First home win over Florida since 1986, also marking the first win over an Associated Press top 10-ranked opponent since 2010 (2021) n First win at Tennessee since 1984 (2020) n First New Year’s Day Bowl win since 1951 (2018 season) n First 10-win season since 1977 (2018) n First SEC Coach of the Year since 1983 (2018) n First final poll ranking since 1984 (2018) n First bowl win since 2008 (2018 season) n First win vs. Florida since 1986 (2018) n First bowl appearance since 2010 (2016) Individually, Stoops’ players have won All-America accolades, along with honors such as the Bronko Nagurski Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Paul Hornung Award, Ronnie Lott Trophy, Ray Guy Award, Danny Wuerffel Trophy, Jason Witten Man of the Year, Pop Warner Award, Freddie Solomon Spirit Award, Academic All-America and Na- tional Good Works Team. Kentucky’s football team has fared well academically under Stoops, as each year UK’s football score in the NCAA Academ- ic Progress Rate has been well above the benchmark of 930. Off the field, Stoops is a staunch sup- porter of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, helping raise more than $500,000 annually for the kids. He was named the Honorary Coach of the 2022 AFCA Good Works Team. The bountiful crop of victories and hon- ors are the fruit of the last nine seasons, but the harvest didn’t come easily. Arriving in 2013, inheriting a team that had gone 2-10 the season before, it took three years of plowing, planting and growing before the results came. Stoops earned his first bowl game as head coach in 2016, when the Wildcats overcame an 0-2 start to go 7-3 down the stretch and advance to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. UK duplicated seven wins in 2017, playing in the Franklin-American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Led by linebacker Josh Allen, the Nation- al Defensive Player of the Year, and Benny Snell Jr., the school’s all-time leading rush- er, the 2018 squad went 10-3. It was UK’s best season in 41 years, topped by a win over Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. It was only the third 10-win season in school history. In addition, the 2018 campaign featured a win at Florida — the Wildcats’ first victory over the Gators in 32 years — resulting in UK being named the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of Amer- ica. The regular season concluded with a 56- 10 win at in-state rival Louisville, the largest margin of victory in the history of the Gover- nor’s Cup series. UK was No. 11 in the final USA Today coaches’ poll and No. 12 in the final Asso- ciated Press tabulation, the school’s first appearance in the final rankings since 1984. The 2018 season also continued a remark- able trend — since Stoops took over as coach of the Cats in 2013, UK was the only KENTUCKY FOOTBALL Mark Stoops n Head Coach University of Kentucky 20 n @UKFootballEXTRAORDINARY CARE FOR EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE GETTING YOU BACK TO THOSE WHO MATTER MOST, WHEN IT MATTERS MOST. UK HealthCare Brand Strategy - MKTG25-50 ukhealthcare.com/extraordinary-peopleschool in the nation that tied or improved its win total in six straight seasons. CollegeFootballNews.com listed Stoops as the best coaching performance of the season and he was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by The Asso- ciated Press, Athlon Sports and the league coaches. The 2019 season was one of the most unusual in school history. A succession of injuries decimated the quarterbacks and Stoops turned to wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. to man the QB position. Running the ball almost exclusively, UK went 6-2 down the stretch and closed the season with four straight wins, topped by a dramatic come- from-behind Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech when Bowden threw the game-winning touchdown pass with only 15 seconds re- maining. Stoops followed with the Covid-short- ened 2020 season that was capped by a Gator Bowl win over No. 23 North Carolina State. More winning seasons and bowl ap- pearances have followed, giving Stoops the school records in both categories, and prompting ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill to call Stoops “the best program builder in all of college football.” How has Stoops accomplished all of this? The coach would tell you that there’s been nothing magical about the process. True to his blue-collar roots in Youngstown, Ohio, the methodical advance- ment made by Stoops’ teams is a reflection of the coach’s rock-steady work ethic, tire- less recruiting, and ability to adapt. Stoops came to Kentucky from Florida State, where he was defensive coordina- tor from 2010-12. He inherited a unit a unit ranked 108th in the nation in total defense and turned it into one of the nation’s best. In the 2012 season, the Seminoles were sec- ond in the nation in total defense, allowing 254.1 yards per game, and sixth nationally in scoring defense at 14.7 points per game. Playing well against the run and the pass, FSU was third in the country in rushing de- fense and led the nation in pass defense. FSU led the ACC in seven defensive cate- gories. Stoops also coached the defensive backs under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Eight Seminoles on defense earned 2012 All-ACC honors, including four first-team se- lections, highlighted by one of the nation’s top defensive end duos in Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine, who combined for 24 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. Werner was a finalist for the 2012 Bronko Nagurski Award as the National Defensive Player of the Year and was among the national lead- ers in sacks with 13. Stoops also coached cornerback Ronald Darby to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Seminoles’ prowess was a continuation of the 2011 season, when Stoops’ defenders led the nation in fewest yards allowed per carry (2.3), ranked fourth in the nation in to- tal defense (275 yards per game), second in rushing defense (82.7 ypg), fourth in scoring defense (15.1 points per game), and eighth in tackles for loss (8.6 per game) and quar- terback sacks (3.1 per game). FSU led the ACC in eight defensive categories. Stoops overhauled the Florida State de- fense in 2010, his first season as defensive coordinator. The Seminoles gave up 19.6 points per game, third-best in the ACC and 20th nationally. FSU ranked 42nd nationally in total defense that season; in contrast, the team was 108th nationally in total defense and 94th in scoring defense in 2009, the year before Stoops’ arrival. FSU improved its overall defense by more than 80 yards per game, primarily by limiting opponents to 75 fewer rushing yards per game. The Sem- inoles ranked third in the nation in quarter- back sacks and were 21st in tackles for loss. In the secondary, Stoops coached Xavier Rhodes to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and National Defensive Freshman of the Year accolades. During Stoops’ three seasons, FSU went 10-4, 9-4 and 12-2, including wins over South Carolina in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl, Notre Dame in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl and Northern Illinois in the 2013 Or- ange Bowl. Stoops was defensive coordinator and DBs coach at Arizona from 2004-09, working for his brother, Mike, who was head coach of the Wildcats. During Mark’s time there, Ari- zona’s records improved steadily, going 3-8, 3-8, 6-6, 5-7, 8-5 and 8-5. The Wildcats ad- vanced to the Las Vegas Bowl and Holiday Bowl during the last two years. Stoops inherited an Arizona unit that was 109th in the nation in total defense and 107th in scoring defense in 2003, the year before he arrived. By the end of his term at Arizona, the Wildcats ranked in the nation’s top 25 in total defense his final two seasons and ranked as high as 33rd in scoring de- fense. Mark and Mike are also brothers of Bob Stoops, who spent 18 years as the Oklaho- ma head coach and has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. The el- dest Stoops brother, Ron Jr., is retired after Akron..............................................1-0 Alabama.........................................0-4 Alabama State................................1-0 Arkansas.........................................1-0 Auburn............................................0-3 Austin Peay.....................................1-0 Ball State........................................1-0 Central Michigan.............................1-0 Charlotte........................................1-0 Chattanooga...................................1-0 Clemson.........................................0-1 Eastern Kentucky............................3-0 Eastern Michigan.............................2-0 Florida............................................4-8 Georgia.........................................0-12 Georgia Tech...................................0-1 Iowa...............................................1-1 Louisiana-Lafayette.........................1-0 Louisiana-Monroe...........................2-0 Louisville ........................................6-5 LSU................................................1-1 Miami (Ohio)...................................2-0 Middle Tennessee............................1-0 Mississippi State.............................5-6 Missouri..........................................7-4 Murray State....................................2-0 New Mexico State............................2-0 North Carolina State........................1-0 Northern Illinois..............................1-0 Northwestern..................................0-1 Ohio...............................................2-0 Ole Miss..........................................1-3 Penn State......................................1-0 South Carolina................................7-5 Southern Miss.................................2-1 Tennessee.......................................2-9 Tennessee-Martin............................2-0 Texas..............................................0-1 Texas A&M......................................0-1 Toledo.............................................1-0 Vanderbilt.......................................8-4 Virginia Tech....................................1-0 Western Kentucky...........................0-1 Youngstown State............................1-0 Total.........................................77-73 Stoopsvs All Opponents Mark Stoops n Head Coach University of Kentucky KENTUCKY FOOTBALL 22 n @UKFootballcoaching at Youngstown State. Mark and Mike have reunited in Lexington, as Mike joined the UK staff in 2022 as inside line- backers coach. Prior to Arizona, Mark Stoops coached the defensive backs three years at Miami (Fla.). The 2001 national champion Hurri- canes led the nation in pass efficiency de- fense, scoring defense and turnover margin. That team also established a school record with 27 interceptions and 45 total take- aways. Stoops’ 2002 secondary led the nation in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. Despite having to replace all four starters in the defensive backfield, the 2003 team led the nation in pass defense. In his three seasons, Miami went 35-3, including the 12-0 Rose Bowl title campaign, plus appear- ances in the Fiesta and Orange bowls. Ten Miami defensive backs who played at least one season under Stoops were eventually selected in the National Football League draft – seven in the first round. Stoops got his first experience in leading a defense as co-defensive coordinator at Houston in the 2000 season. He coached the secondary at Wyoming from 1997-99 and the Cowboys notched three straight winning seasons. A highlight of his time there was a school-record 24 interceptions in the ’97 season. His first full-time coach- ing job was in 1996 at South Florida, helping USF in the start-up of its program before the Bulls had their first kickoff in ’97. Stoops has recruited and developed numerous outstanding defensive backs, many of whom went on to National Foot- ball League careers. Among the notables are Antoine Cason and Michael Johnson at Arizona, Miami’s Philip Buchanon, Kelly Jen- nings, Brandon Meriweather, Ed Reed, An- trel Rolle, Mike Rumph and Sean Taylor and Wyoming’s Brian Lee. Stoops was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. As did brothers Bob and Mike, Mark played in the secondary at the University of Iowa for Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry. He par- ticipated in four bowl games as a player. Fry hired Stoops as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa in the 1990 and ’91 seasons. The Hawkeyes won the 1990 Big Ten title and played in the Rose Bowl, duplicating feats Stoops also achieved as a player. Stoops went on to coach four years in high school before entering the collegiate ranks. Stoops has two sons, Will and Zack. YearSchoolPositionW-LBowl 1990IowaGraduate Assistant8-4Rose 1991IowaGraduate Assistant10-1-1Holiday 1992-95Nordonia HSDefensive Backs 1996South FloridaDefensive Backs0-0 1997WyomingDefensive Backs7-6 1998WyomingDefensive Backs8-3 1999WyomingDefensive Backs7-4 2000HoustonCo-Defensive Coord., Safeties3-8 2001Miami (Fla.)Defensive Backs12-0Rose 2002Miami (Fla.)Defensive Backs12-1Fiesta 2003Miami (Fla.)Defensive Backs11-2Orange 2004ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs3-8 2005ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs3-8 2006ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs6-6 2007ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs5-7 2008ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs8-5Las Vegas 2009ArizonaDefensive Coordinator, DBs8-5Holiday 2010Florida StateDefensive Coordinator, DBs 10-4Chick-fil-A 2011Florida StateDefensive Coordinator, DBs9-4Champs Sports 2012Florida StateDefensive Coordinator, DBs12-2Orange 2013KentuckyHead Coach2-10 2014KentuckyHead Coach5-7 2015KentuckyHead Coach5-7 2016KentuckyHead Coach7-6TaxSlayer Gator 2017KentuckyHead Coach7-6Music City 2018KentuckyHead Coach10-3Citrus 2019KentuckyHead Coach8-5Belk 2020KentuckyHead Coach5-6TaxSlayer Gator 2021KentuckyHead Coach*0-3Citrus 2022KentuckyHead Coach7-6Music City 2023KentuckyHead Coach7-6TaxSlayer Gator 2024KentuckyHead Coach4-8 * 10 wins vacated by NCAA The Mark StoopsCoaching File KENTUCKY FOOTBALL Mark Stoops n Head Coach University of Kentucky 24 n @UKFootballJay Boulware enters his third season with the UK football program in 2025 after being hired as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator in December 2022. Boulware – despite losing All-American Ray Davis to the NFL Draft and battling injury with incoming transfer Chip Trayanum out of Ohio State last season – trained up a trio of running backs that gave Big Blue Nation hope for the future. Prior to the Steelers, he served as the as- sociate head coach for special teams and tight ends coach at Texas, his alma mater, helping the No. 19 Longhorns finish 7-3 overall and capture the Alamo Bowl title in 2020. He also spent seven years at Oklahoma, working under then-head coach Bob Stoops from 2013-16 and Lincoln Riley from (2017-19) and had stints at Auburn, Utah, Stanford, Arizona and Northern Illinois. Boulware was an offensive lineman at Texas before entering the coach- ing ranks. 1997-2000Tight Ends/Co-Offensive LineNorthern Illinois 2001-03Tight Ends/Running Backs/Offensive LineArizona 2004 (Summer)NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship ProgramSan Francisco 49ers 2004Running BacksStanford 2005-06Tight Ends/Co-Special TeamsUtah 2007-08Running Backs/Special TeamsIowa State 2009-12Tight Ends/Special TeamsAuburn 2013-19Running Backs/Special TeamsOklahoma 2014 (Summer)NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship ProgramNew Orleans Saints 2020Assoc. Head Coach/Tight Ends/Special TeamsTexas 2021Offensive InternPittsburgh Steelers 2023-presentRunning Backs/Special Teams CoordinatorKentucky JAY BOULWARE Running Backs/Special Teams Chris Collins enters his fifth season at Kentucky coaching the defensive backs and his second as co-defensive coordina- tor. Since joining the Wildcats in June 2021, Collins has played a vital role in develop- ing a secondary that consistently produces NFL-caliber talent and contributes to one of the SEC’s top defenses. Collins has established a reputation for developing elite secondary talent, most no- tably mentoring Max Hairston—who made history as the first Kentucky defensive back ever selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, going 30th overall to the Buffalo Bills. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Andru Phillips was taken in the third round by the New York Giants following a strong junior campaign in which he tallied 47 tackles, 1.5 tack- les for loss, and five pass breakups. Carrington Valentine declared early for the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers after a junior season that included 48 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and an SEC top-10 ranking in passes defended (11). Keidron Smith, a transfer from Ole Miss, earned Second Team All-SEC honors in his lone season at UK in 2022, finishing with 46 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a tackle for loss. He was signed by the Mi- ami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and currently plays for the Denver Broncos. Collins was a four-year letter winner and two-year captain as a safety and outside linebacker at Western Carolina from 2006-09. He recorded 303 tackles during his collegiate career, including 109 as a senior in 2009, when he earned second-team All-Southern Conference recognition. He finished his career with 19 tackles for loss (including 12.5 as a senior), nine forced fumbles (including a SoCon-best six as a junior) and five pass breakups. 2011-12Defensive AssistantWestern Carolina 2013-14Secondary/Special Teams CoordinatorCatawba 2015Defensive Graduate AssistantAppalachian State 2016Assistant Linebackers CoachWestern Carolina 2017-18Assistant Safeties CoachGeorgia State 2019-20Assistant Safeties Coach/Recruiting CoordinatorGeorgia State 2021-23Defensive BacksKentucky 2024-presentCo-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive BacksKentucky CHRIS COLLINS Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Frank Buffano enters his sixth season on the UK coaching staff. Last season, Buffano had a mostly veter- an group that excited Big Blue Nation prior to 2024, including Maxwell Hairston, Zion Chil- dress, Kristian Story and Jordan Lovett. Prior to Kentucky, Buffano was a secondary coach and linebackers coach at Youngstown State. He began his career at Arizona under Mike Stoops, serving as a defensive graduate assistant coach his last two seasons after three years of working as a video graduate assistant with the Wildcats. 2008-09Defensive Grad AssistantArizona 2010SecondaryYoungstown State 2011-12LinebackersYoungstown State 2020SafetiesKentucky 2021-22Safeties/Co-Special Teams CoordinatorKentucky 2023-presentSafetiesKentucky FRANK BUFFANO Safeties KENTUCKY FOOTBALL Coaching Staff n 2025 University of Kentucky 26 n @UKFootballDerek Shay is in his first season as Ken- tucky’s tight ends coach, having previously served as the Wildcats’ senior offensive an- alyst and run game specialist for the past 16 months. In that role, he played a key part in game planning and run scheme develop- ment, contributing to the overall success of Kentucky’s offensive attack. Shay, 34, has significant knowledge of the position, having developed his skills at Marshall (2023), LSU (2020, 2021), McNeese State (2019) and Bowling Green State (2014). In 2024 for the Wildcats, Shay worked specifically with the offensive line and assistant coach Eric Wolford. With his help, the Big Blue Wall helped power an offense that featured 170 yards rushing against the No. 1/1 Bull- dogs; a 20-point, 336 yards of total offense and 243 passing yards perfor- Bush Hamdan enters his second season on Kentucky’s coaching staff. He was hired as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on Feb. 14, 2024. Hamdan came to the Bluegrass with 15 years of collegiate and NFL coaching expe- rience combined, most recently serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Boise State. Boise State tied for the 2023 regular-sea- son championship of the Mountain West Conference, then won the league championship game with a victory at UNLV. The Broncos went on to play in the LA Bowl. The Broncos were second in the MWC in scoring offense and third in total offense. Hamdan was a three-year letter winner and two-time team captain as a quarterback at Boise State from 2006-08. His last three seasons, all played under Petersen, the Broncos posted a 35-4 overall record, in- cluding a perfect 13-0 mark and a win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2006. As a senior, he earned the Bronco Excellence Award for integrity and leadership. 2009Student CoachColorado 2010Offensive Quality ControlMaryland 2011Tight EndsSacramento State 2012Wide ReceiversFlorida 2013Co-Offensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksArkansas State 2014Offensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksDavidson 2015Offensive Quality ControlWashington 2016Wide Receivers/Passing Game CoordinatorWashington 2017QuarterbacksAtlanta Falcons 2018-19Offensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksWashington 2020-21Wide Receivers/QuarterbacksMissouri 2022QuarterbacksMissouri 2023Offensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksBoise State 2024-presentOffensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksKentucky BUSH HAMDAN Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Entering his sixth season on Kentucky's staff, former Wildcat Anwar Stewart was named the defensive line coach at Kentucky in January of 2020. He returned to the Blue- grass after one season as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State. Stewart is quite familiar with the Kentucky football program after playing linebacker/de- fensive 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 from 2017-18. During his playing days at Kentucky, he totaled 64 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and eight sacks, playing both linebacker and defensive end. 2014Defensive Quality ControlMontreal Alouettes 2015Defensive EndsMontreal Alouettes 2016Defensive LineMontreal Alouettes 2017-18Defensive AssistantKentucky 2019Defensive LineAppalachian State 2020-presentDefensive LineKentucky ANWAR STEWART Defensive Line DEREK SHAY Tight Ends mance in a win at No. 6/5 Ole Miss; and a 211-yard passing performance at No. 3/3 Texas, the most it allowed to that point in 2024. Shay arrived in the Bluegrass in March of 2024 after spending one sea- son as the tight ends coach at Marshall in 2023. Prior to that, he served as a senior offensive analyst at Missouri in 2022. He also served as the tight ends coach at LSU in 2020 and 2021 after seeing success in coaching the tackles and tight ends at FCS program McNeese State in 2019. Before that, he served on the staff of one of the nation’s top prep powerhouses – IMG Academy in Florida. Shay played collegiately for one season at Western Illinois University before transferring to Eastern Illinois. He graduated from EIU in 2013 with a degree in education. He went on to earn a master’s degree in liberal arts from LSU in 2021. 2011-13Student Assistant/Tight Ends/Offensive LineEastern Illinois 2014-15Graduate Assistant Coach/Tight EndsBowling Green State 2015-17Co-Offensive Coord./Offensive LineWarren Central High School 2017-19Co-Offensive Coord./Offensive LineIMG Academy 2019-20Tight Ends/Offensive TacklesMcNeese State 2020-22Graduate Assistant/Tight EndsLSU 2022-23Senior Offensive AnalystMissouri 2023-24Tight EndsMarshall 2024Senior Offensive Analyst/Run Game SpecialistKentucky 2025-presentInterim Tight EndsKentucky 2025 University of Kentucky n Coaching Staff @UKSportsNetwork n 27 KENTUCKY FOOTBALLNext >