Jon Sumrall pens thank you note to Big Blue Nation

Mark Stoops has brought a ton of high character people into the Kentucky Football program, but not many were more respected by everyone involved than Jon Sumrall.

The new head coach at Troy finished out his tenure in Lexington on New Year’s Day in UK’s 20-17 Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa, knowing that he couldn’t leave without coaching DeAndre Square one more time. Sumrall had been the Wildcats inside linebackers coach since 2019 and was later promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before accepting the Troy HC job in early December.

Despite a new position already secured, Sumrall knew that he owed it to his team to finish out the season. Following Kentucky’s fourth straight bowl win, the ’04 Wildcat graduate penned a thank you letter to the Big Blue Nation.

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— Jon Sumrall (@CoachJonSumrall) January 2, 2022

I am grateful to have been at the University of Kentucky the last 3 years. I am forever indebted to Mark Stoops for providing me with the opportunity to return to my alma mater and coach. I would also like to thank Dr. Eli Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for their leadership and support. To the coaching staff, support staff and players at UK you are family – I love ya’ll and am going to miss doing life with you. Lastly thank you to the BBN for the love you have shown me and my family. I will always be a Kentucky Wildcat.

It is hard to leave home, but not as hard as when you are returning home.

I would like to thank Dr. Jack Hawkins and Brent Jones for trusting me to lead the Troy Football program as head coach. Trojan Nation, I look forward to partnering with you to bring Troy back to a championship level. To the student-athletes in our program at Troy I am eager to invest in your lives to help you become the best you can be on & off the field.

Go Big Blue & Go Trojans,
Jon Sumrall

Via Twitter: @CoachJonSumrall

Sumrall played linebacker for the Wildcats from 2002-04 before returning to his alma mater on the sidelines as a graduate assistant from 2005-06. He was previously the assistant head coach at Troy from 2015-18 before taking a job at Ole Miss and later coming back to Kentucky to coach the inside linebackers.

We’re sad to see him go, but excited to watch his future!