Louisville's reported hire of Kentucky assistant Vince Marrow likely avoids buyout clause

The bombshell news that long-time Kentucky assistant Vince Marrow plans to head to Louisville as general manager comes with an additional blow for the Big Blue Nation. The Wildcats likely will not receive any buyout money for his departure.

Marrow has a clause in his contract stating that he will owe $200,000 per year left on his contract should he leave for another coaching position. Because the job he’s leaving for is not a coaching position, though, Kentucky likely will not be able to collect that sum.

That’s about $300,000 the Wildcats will miss out on, with Vince Marrow‘s contract running through the 2026 season. Below is the buyout clause in question:

“Termination by coach for another coaching position: As currently stated in Paragraph #3.3, if Coach terminates this Agreement and accepts any other coaching position during the term (per Paragraph #1 above) of this Agreement, the Coach will pay to the University liquidated damages in the amount of $200,000 per year of the remaining compensation on the Agreement. These liquidated damages will be waived by the Athletic Director, if Coach takes a position as an NCAA Head Coach (FBS or FCS) and/or coaching position in the NFL.”

Vince Marrow move will make waves

Because he’s been such an integral part of the Kentucky program under coach Mark Stoops, the move of Vince Marrow to Louisville could send a seismic shock through the program. Marrow has long been one of the program’s best recruiters.

Marrow has been at Kentucky in some capacity since 2013, service as associate head coach and tight ends coach. He’s essentially been Stoops’ right-hand man.

Now he is reportedly finalizing a three-year deal with the Cardinals. At Louisville, he’ll oversee roster management pertaining to recruiting and the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

“Marrow has been at UK for 12 years and is both recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach in his associate head coach role,” Thamel wrote on Twitter. “He’s long been a dominant recruiter in Midwest space and has been the linchpin of Kentucky’s recruiting efforts. He brings a reputation as consistently being one of the country’s top recruiters.”

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this report.