Report: Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow finalizing three-year deal as Louisville GM

Vince Marrow is leaving Kentucky to become the general manager for the Louisville football program, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Marrow has been Mark Stoops’ right-hand man since 2013, but will now move across the Bluegrass to head the front office of their rival program.

Marrow is finalizing a three-year deal with the Cardinals. At Louisville, he’ll oversee roster management pertaining to recruiting and the transfer portal, according to 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 X. “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.”

The longtime Kentucky associate head coach has been the primary recruiter for some of the Wildcats’ top recruits over the past decade. He held the titles of associate head coach, tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator and NFL Liaison.

There have been many reports over the years noting other programs interest in adding Marrow to their coaching staff, whether that be as an assistant or in a front office. After many have tried, Louisville football are the ones to obtain his services.

Notably, there is a clause in Marrow’s contract that states that he will owe $200,000 per year left on his contract if he decides to leave for another college football coaching position. His new position at Louisville will be behind the scenes, not the field, avoiding that stipulation in his contract altogether.

Marrow’s move comes at a time where the Wildcats appear to be on the decline, and Louisville is surging as a contender in the ACC. Last season’s annual rivalry matchup for the Governor’s Cup was a nod to this, seeing Louisville snap Kentucky’s five-game winning streak over them. The Cardinals did so in blowout fashion, 41-14 at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Kentucky finished 2024 with a 4-8 record, missing out on the postseason for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, Louisville is 19-8 under Jeff Brohm in two seasons and all signs point toward the Cardinals competing among the best teams in the country in 2025.

Louisville will take on Kentucky inside L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium during the regular season finale on Nov. 29. That means Marrow won’t be back inside Kroger Field until the 2026 season.