Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will remain with Texas A&M through playoff run

Kentucky head coach Will Stein is staying on as Oregon’s offensive coordinator throughout the College Football Playoff (CFP) run for the Ducks. We now know that Kentucky’s new defensive coordinator will be doing the same.

The Wildcats have not made the hire of Jay Bateman official yet but Texas A&M promoting Lyle Hemphill to defensive coordinator all but confirms the expected move. On Friday, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed that Bateman will also be staying with the Aggies throughout their run in the CFP.

Lyle Hemphill has officially been promoted to Texas A&M defensive coordinator. Jay Bateman will stay with the Aggies through CFP. https://t.co/7VeEA1ZdHi

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 12, 2025

Jay Bateman, 52, is a Virginia native who played linebacker at Randolph-Macon from 1991-94. After getting his start in coaching at the high school level, Bateman became a graduate assistant in D-III and then became a head coach at FCS Sienna at age 26. After a rough four-year campaign that included just five wins, Bateman spent seven more seasons in the FCS highlighted by becoming Elon’s defensive coordinator. While working for head coach Pete Lembo, Bateman helped guide the Phoenix to three ranked finishes. The defensive coordinator then followed Lembo to Ball State for his first job in the FBS.

That led to an opportunity at Army where Bateman called the defense for five seasons. The defensive coordinator was a part of two double-digit win teams in West Point. Bateman then went to North Carolina to call the defense for Mack Brown from 2019-21. After losing his job in Chapel Hill, Bateman landed at Florida where he worked for two seasons as a linebackers coach before Mike Elko tagged him to be his first defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. The defensive coordinator was paid $1 million in 2024.

Bateman’s work in Lexington will officially begin whenever Texas A&M’s run in the CFP ends.

CFP schedule

First Round

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma | Friday, Dec. 19 — 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M | Saturday, Dec. 20 — Noon ET (ABC)
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss | Saturday, Dec. 20 — 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon | Saturday, Dec. 20 — 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Playoff Quarterfinals

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami | Wednesday, Dec. 31 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison USC | Thursday, Jan. 1 – 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama | Thursday, Jan. 1 – 5 p.m. ET
Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane | Thursday, Jan. 1 – 8:45 p.m. ET

Playoff Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 8 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Peach Bowl | Friday, Jan. 9 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

National Championship
Monday, Jan. 19 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN