Jeff Brohm addresses how Louisville staff felt about hiring Vince Marrow with his Kentucky ties

Vince Marrow and Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm stunned the bluegrass state earlier this month when it was announced that Marrow, who had been a fixture of the Kentucky coaching staff since 2013, was joining the Louisville program as Executive Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting.

Marrow and Brohm go all the way back to their days in the infamous “XFL”, in which they were teammates on the Orlando Rage. The XFL, founded by the [then named] World Wrestling Federation and Vince McMahon, folded after just one season of operation.

Marrow joined Mark Stoops‘ first Kentucky staff back in 2013, helping guide the ‘Cats to a 67-73 (28-62) record with two Citrus Bowl wins (2018 & 2021) and wins in the 2019 Belk Bowl and 2020 Gator Bowl. With the Youngstown native on its staff, Kentucky controlled the “Battle of the Bluegrass” against Louisville 6-5.

“Well you’d be surprised,” Brohm responded when asked how the Louisville staff felt about hiring Marrow. “Me and Vince [Marrow] have had a relationship and have talked for years, even going back to the Purdue days pretty much every year. Our staff kinda knows what we’re good at and maybe needs a little help at maybe possibly and I think they’re fired up to acquire someone of his caliber who can do a lot of things that maybe we’re okay at but he might be great at. To be out there recruiting at the highest level is just… it sounds easy but it requires a lot of work. It requires a lot of time and a lot of effort. I know Vince is a natural at it.”

Brohm says ‘now was the time’ for Marrow to make the jump

Marrow’s loss comes as a big blow to the Wildcat coaching staff. He had recruited some the greatest players in the program’s recent history, including First-team All-SEC wide receiver/quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky‘s fifth-leading receiver in program history Dane Key and Consensus All-American offensive lineman Darian Kinnard.

“We’ve just talked and ran into each other numerous times and there’s always been some banter back and forth,” Brohm said. “I just think that it got to a point where now was the time. I thought now was the time it fit for everyone and its an exciting time. We’ve got recruiting going on right now. He just joined us and started on Monday. He’s fit in outstanding to this point just in a week and I think he’s just gonna help us as a staff continue to build this roster, our team and continue to improve every year so we can win at the highest level.”

The ‘Cats and Cardinals will clash this season on November 29 at Louisville, marking the first time ever that Marrow is on the opposing sideline from Stoops.