Mark Stoops addresses Vince Marrow departure: 'I wish my friend and colleague nothing but the best'

Former Kentucky Associate Head Coach Vince Marrow shocked the college football world on Monday when it was revealed that he was leaving the Wildcats to become the general manager at rival Louisville. The move was officially announced on Thursday.

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, who has had Marrow by his side since taking the job in 2013, broke his silence on the move on Thursday.

“We’re thankful for Coach Marrow’s contributions to our program over the past 12 years,” Stoops said. As we look to the new season and a new era of college football, we’re focused on the opportunities at hand. 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.”

Marrow will now make the move 77 miles west to join Louisville, which is coming off a successful 9-4 season. He made his first public comments on Thursday as well.

Vince Marrow makes first public comments as well

“I am incredibly excited to work with Jeff Brohm and the University of Louisville football program! Jeff and I have known each other for over 25 years, I have always admired and respected him and the Brohm family,” Marrow said. “I also love the state of Kentucky, this has become my home. The opportunity to take on this new and 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,” Marrow said. “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.”

Marrow had been an integral part of the staff and success over the past 12 years at Kentucky. His impact on the program went far beyond his title as tight ends coach, more so being known for his work as their recruiting coordinator, pro liaison, and eventually the associate head coach for the Wildcats under Stoops. That makes his departure, especially at this point of the offseason, with no apparent notice, and to their rival no less, that much more of a disaster for UK, with it going over about as you’d expect in Lexington.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.