Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
5th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Joker Phillips (2010–2012) · succeeded by Will Stein (2026–now).
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||||||||
| Record | 2-10 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 7-6 | 7-6 | 10-3 | 8-5 | 5-6 | 10-3 | 7-6 | 7-6 | 4-8 | 5-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #34 | #22 | #38 | #34 | #30 | #37 | #34 | #23 | #32 | #14 | #32 | #24 | #29 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | 44.3 | 47.6 | 48.7 | 35.8 | 40.3 | 35.6 | 31.0 | 35.5 | 42.5 | 43.0 | 52.5 | 41.5 | 46.0 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||||||||||
| OC | — | Neal Brown | Shannon Dawson | Eddie Gran / Darin Hinshaw | Eddie Gran / Darin Hinshaw | Eddie Gran / Darin Hinshaw | Eddie Gran / Darin Hinshaw | Eddie Gran / Darin Hinshaw | Liam Coen | Rich Scangarello | Liam Coen | Bush Hamdan | Bush Hamdan | |
| DC | — | D. J. Eliot | D. J. Eliot | D. J. Eliot | Matt House | Matt House | Brad White | Brad White | Brad White / Jon Sumrall | Brad White | Brad White | Brad White | Brad White | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||||||||
| Offense | 23 | 29 | 39 | 70 | 47 | 47 | 83 | 19 | 61 | 10 | 70 | 13 | 24 | |
| Defense | 10 | 36 | 58 | 18 | 9 | 70 | 69 | 36 | 60 | 92 | 52 | 68 | 53 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 43.2 | 50.0 | 45.7 | 31.4 | 37.9 | 34.3 | 26.8 | 31.5 | 42.3 | 30.1 | 43.5 | 36.2 | 37.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 36.4 | 45.8 | 33.0 | 24.0 | 33.7 | 24.3 | 23.2 | 29.2 | 37.7 | 46.2 | 54.7 | 37.0 | 29.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 38.9 | 36.4 | 35.9 | 28.9 | 15.0 | 25.8 | 42.1 | 30.0 | 40.0 | 31.7 | 30.0 | 38.7 | 38.7 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
34 NFL Draft picks: Avery Williamson (2014), Bud Dupree (2015), Za'Darius Smith (2015), Josh Forrest (2016), Josh Allen (2019), Lonnie Johnson Jr. (2019), Mike Edwards (2019), Benny Snell Jr. (2019) + 26 more
2 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Darian Kinnard (2021), Barion Brown (2023)
7th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Rich Brooks (2003–2009) · succeeded by Mark Stoops (2013–2025).
| Season | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 6-7 | 5-7 | 2-10 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #49 | #36 | #50 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 50.3 | 44.0 | 49.0 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 72 | 0 | 12 | |
| Defense | 17 | 50 | 33 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 46.9 | 44.6 | 45.6 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 37.2 | 42.9 | 34.2 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 48.9 | 25.8 | 36.7 | |
4 NFL Draft picks: Randall Cobb (2011), Winston Guy (2012), Danny Trevathan (2012), Larry Warford (2013)
10th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Guy Morriss (2001–2002) · succeeded by Joker Phillips (2010–2012).
| Season | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 4-8 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 7-6 | 7-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | #61 | #115 | #60 | #47 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | — | 50.2 | 43.7 | 51.5 | 52.1 | 48.3 | 37.2 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | — | 17 | 21 | 58 | 80 | 11 | 25 | |
| Defense | — | 39 | 26 | 12 | 21 | 45 | 28 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | 39.7 | 44.7 | 53.9 | 50.1 | 43.7 | 29.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | 32.0 | 32.7 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 39.2 | 27.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | 44.4 | 38.9 | 37.9 | 32.6 | 18.5 | 40.5 | |
10 NFL Draft picks: Derek Abney (2004), Vincent Burns (2005), Jacob Tamme (2008), Keenan Burton (2008), Andre' Woodson (2008), Steve Johnson (2008), Myron Pryor (2009), Corey Peters (2010) + 2 more
12th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Bill Curry (1990–1996) · succeeded by Guy Morriss (2001–2002).
| Season | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 5-6 | 7-5 | 6-6 | 2-9 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | |
7 NFL Draft picks: Kio Sanford (1998), Tim Couch (1999), Craig Yeast (1999), James Whalen (2000), Eric Kelly (2001), Marlon McCree (2001), Quentin McCord (2001)
9th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Jerry Claiborne (1982–1989) · succeeded by Hal Mumme (1997–2000).
| Season | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 4-7 | 3-8 | 4-7 | 6-6 | 1-10 | 4-7 | 4-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | L bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
9 NFL Draft picks: Dean Wells (1993), Todd Perry (1993), Chuck Bradley (1993), Terry Samuels (1994), Zane Beehn (1994), Marty Moore (1994), Melvin Johnson (1995), Van Hiles (1997) + 1 more
6th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Fran Curci (1973–1981) · succeeded by Bill Curry (1990–1996).
| Season | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 0-10-1 | 6-5-1 | 9-3 | 5-6 | 5-5-1 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 6-5 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | W bowl | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
10 NFL Draft picks: John Grimsley (1984), George Adams (1985), Cam Jacobs (1985), Marc Logan (1987), Tony Mayes (1987), D.J. Johnson (1989), Ivy Joe Hunter (1989), Oliver Barnett (1990) + 2 more
4th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed John Ray (1969–1972) · succeeded by Jerry Claiborne (1982–1989).
| Season | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||||
| Record | 5-6 | 6-5 | 2-8-1 | 8-4 | 10-1 | 4-6-1 | 5-6 | 3-8 | 3-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
16 NFL Draft picks: Frank LeMaster (1974), Elmore Stephens (1975), Rick Nuzum (1975), Sonny Collins (1976), Wally Pesuit (1976), Warren Bryant (1977), Randy Burke (1977), Art Still (1978) + 8 more
8th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Charley Bradshaw (1962–1968) · succeeded by Fran Curci (1973–1981).
3 NFL Draft picks: David Hardt (1971), Joe Federspiel (1972), Bill Bushong (1972)
3rd-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Blanton Collier (1954–1961) · succeeded by John Ray (1969–1972).
2nd-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Bear Bryant (1946–1953) · succeeded by Charley Bradshaw (1962–1968).
1st-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed Bernie Shively (1945) · succeeded by Blanton Collier (1954–1961).
11th-best Kentucky tenure of 12 by the numbers.
Followed C.A. Wynne (1936–1937) · succeeded by Bernie Shively (1945).