Impact Analysis: What Matt House to the Chiefs means for Kentucky
Mark Stoops (UK Athletics)
Justin Rowland • CatsIllustrated.com
@RowlandRIVALS
Early on Tuesday, Cats Illustrated broke the news that the Kansas City Chiefs were not finished with their pursuit of Matt House and that the NFL franchise was prepared to pay for the buyout that had kept UK's defensive coordinator in Lexington.
Kentucky quickly confirmed that House would indeed be leaving for the linebacker coach position in Kansas City.
Here's what it means for Kentucky.
On the one hand, best for all parties
Losing the defensive coordinator who oversaw the best unit in Kentucky's recent history can't exactly be viewed as a good thing unless one wants to really stretch. But based on how things have gone over the last several days, it may have been best for Kentucky and for House.
A source close to the program told Cats Illustrated that Kentucky's recruiting rivals were already using the House situation against the Wildcats. And it was going to be impossible to avoid the perception that House was anxious to move on from Lexington. It would have been a cloud hanging over the program even if House had signed a new deal with another big buyout. Perceptions matter.
It was an uncomfortable situation for both UK and House. The former had been made to look as though it was holding its defensive coordinator hostage, even though this was a ridiculous interpretation of pretty simple events. The latter seemed like he was eager to leave even taking a pay cut.
With House moving on, it will allow Kentucky to hire or promote someone who will eliminate those potentially harmful perceptions and it was obvious House wanted to coach in the NFL and to enjoy the life that comes along that as opposed to being on the road so much recruiting.
But it does introduce some uncertainty
Most college football pundits agree that staff stability and overall continuity in a program is often important to a head coach's success.
Kentucky has had some degree of continuity in recent years with Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw now going into their fourth seasons managing Kentucky's offense, with Mark Stoops one of the most tenured coaches in the SEC, and with staff anchors John Schlarman and Vince Marrow still on staff from the early days of the current regime.
But there has been some turnover on the defensive side recently with House now gone. If Kentucky promotes from within, as Stoops' did when he elevated House to the role he now vacates, then the continuity issue is addressed.
Whoever takes the job is going to be coaching a very different unit than the one Kentucky had in 2018. Gone are Josh Allen, Jordan Jones, Darius West, Derrick Baity, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Chris Westry, Adrian Middleton and Tymere Dubose. That's a significant amount of turnover.
On the one hand, that means there would have been a lot of turnover and uncertainty even if House had returned. But now it means there will another layer of turnover.
Who might fill House's position?
Mark Stoops has already said he's going to explore all options in his search for a head coach, and even mentioned Mike Stoops, his brother, in an interview on Kentucky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
But Cats Illustrated has already reported that Kentucky outside linebackers coach Brad White appears to be the most likely candidate to fill the role.
House was promoted to defensive coordinator from position coach after being on the staff for a very short period of time two years ago. It would be a similar move for White, who is savvy as a communicator with players and media, and is recognized by people around the program as a very bright, up and coming star in the coaching profession. His work with Allen, in helping him become a very high draft pick (almost certainly) would obviously make him a very attractive hire.
While White does not have as much college coaching experience as some other candidates inside or outside the program - i.e. Mike Stoops, Derrick Ansley, Dean Hood, etc. - one source close to the program confirmed today that White would be a "strong, strong" candidate for the job and another voiced their belief that he would be, at least, very high on choice ladder.
Mark Stoops (UK Athletics)
Justin Rowland • CatsIllustrated.com
@RowlandRIVALS
Early on Tuesday, Cats Illustrated broke the news that the Kansas City Chiefs were not finished with their pursuit of Matt House and that the NFL franchise was prepared to pay for the buyout that had kept UK's defensive coordinator in Lexington.
Kentucky quickly confirmed that House would indeed be leaving for the linebacker coach position in Kansas City.
Here's what it means for Kentucky.
On the one hand, best for all parties
Losing the defensive coordinator who oversaw the best unit in Kentucky's recent history can't exactly be viewed as a good thing unless one wants to really stretch. But based on how things have gone over the last several days, it may have been best for Kentucky and for House.
A source close to the program told Cats Illustrated that Kentucky's recruiting rivals were already using the House situation against the Wildcats. And it was going to be impossible to avoid the perception that House was anxious to move on from Lexington. It would have been a cloud hanging over the program even if House had signed a new deal with another big buyout. Perceptions matter.
It was an uncomfortable situation for both UK and House. The former had been made to look as though it was holding its defensive coordinator hostage, even though this was a ridiculous interpretation of pretty simple events. The latter seemed like he was eager to leave even taking a pay cut.
With House moving on, it will allow Kentucky to hire or promote someone who will eliminate those potentially harmful perceptions and it was obvious House wanted to coach in the NFL and to enjoy the life that comes along that as opposed to being on the road so much recruiting.
But it does introduce some uncertainty
Most college football pundits agree that staff stability and overall continuity in a program is often important to a head coach's success.
Kentucky has had some degree of continuity in recent years with Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw now going into their fourth seasons managing Kentucky's offense, with Mark Stoops one of the most tenured coaches in the SEC, and with staff anchors John Schlarman and Vince Marrow still on staff from the early days of the current regime.
But there has been some turnover on the defensive side recently with House now gone. If Kentucky promotes from within, as Stoops' did when he elevated House to the role he now vacates, then the continuity issue is addressed.
Whoever takes the job is going to be coaching a very different unit than the one Kentucky had in 2018. Gone are Josh Allen, Jordan Jones, Darius West, Derrick Baity, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Chris Westry, Adrian Middleton and Tymere Dubose. That's a significant amount of turnover.
On the one hand, that means there would have been a lot of turnover and uncertainty even if House had returned. But now it means there will another layer of turnover.
Who might fill House's position?
Mark Stoops has already said he's going to explore all options in his search for a head coach, and even mentioned Mike Stoops, his brother, in an interview on Kentucky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
But Cats Illustrated has already reported that Kentucky outside linebackers coach Brad White appears to be the most likely candidate to fill the role.
House was promoted to defensive coordinator from position coach after being on the staff for a very short period of time two years ago. It would be a similar move for White, who is savvy as a communicator with players and media, and is recognized by people around the program as a very bright, up and coming star in the coaching profession. His work with Allen, in helping him become a very high draft pick (almost certainly) would obviously make him a very attractive hire.
While White does not have as much college coaching experience as some other candidates inside or outside the program - i.e. Mike Stoops, Derrick Ansley, Dean Hood, etc. - one source close to the program confirmed today that White would be a "strong, strong" candidate for the job and another voiced their belief that he would be, at least, very high on choice ladder.
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