Carousel or not, Stoops may have a coaching hire to make this offseason
Because of an NCAA proposal from earlier this year Mark Stoops and every other head coach at the FBS level could have an additional staff vacancy to fill this offseason.
In October, the NCAA's Division I Council proposed that programs be allowed to add a tenth assistant coach onto their staff. If approved it would go into effect this offseason.
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It's not a given that the proposal will ultimately be approved, but on a recent SEC teleconference Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema said he believes there's a lot of momentum and popular support for the additional staff member.
It makes sense that those in the football coaching profession would overwhelming approve of that rule change. The D1 Council has also proposed two early signing periods and that's much more of a lightning rod for controversy, but the "10th assistant" proposal would create 128 full-time, well-compensated coaching positions at the FBS level, or a new job at every school. It would also alleviate some of the stress that coaching, recruiting and other responsibilities place on the nine assistant coaches currently employed at every FBS program.
The NCAA will approve or reject the D1 Council's recommendation. In October, at the time of the proposal, Football Oversight Committee chair Bob Bowlsby said, "There was unanimity around the table on the addition of a 10th assistant coach being allowed."
The only statement the NCAA has made on the issue amounted to an acknowledgement of the proposal and a pledge to "examine" the issue. The D1 Council's proposal on the early signing periods will be determined by a final NCAA vote in April, but it has been less clear when there might be a determination on the 10th assistant.
Because college football programs, such as Kentucky's, are now allowed nine assistant positions head coaches are forced to overlap responsibilities in some cases.
Eddie Gran serves as both offensive coordinator and running backs coach. D.J. Eliot has been Kentucky's defensive coordinator and a linebacker's coach. Meanwhile, first-year UK coach Matt House has also had double duties, coordinating the special teams unit and coaching linebackers as well.
But there are other coaches on the staff who have also taken on additional chores. Vince Marrow coaches tight ends and serves as the program's recruiting coordinator while Darin Hinshaw's "co-offensive coordinator" label isn't just window dressing to go along with his quarterback coach role. He works closely with Gran on a range of things from game-planning to play calling. Even Mark Stoops has two duties. Early in the season after the Cats' sluggish start Stoops assumed play calling responsibilities for the defense as a de-facto defensive coordinator on the field.
An additional staff spot would decrease the need for coaches to take on extra responsibilities, but at least some staff members will continue
How might Stoops put a 10th assistant coaching position to use? That's yet to be determined, and it's only a question if the NCAA approves the proposal. It's not clear if Mark Stoops would target the best assistant coach available, or the one he's most comfortable with, regardless of his experience in the coaching world, or whether he would have a preferred plan to reshuffle current staff responsibilities. There's always the possibility of real assistant coaching turnover, at Kentucky or any other school, but it would be premature to speculate on whether any current assistants might leave for other jobs or be replaced. Still, any other assistant changes might influence Stoops' pick.
It's possible Stoops could hire someone already on staff in the Kentucky football program. Tommy Mangino is an offensive assistant with the program who has experience as a position coach at the Power Five ranks, having served as Iowa State's receivers coach prior to taking the UK job he currently occupies. Mangino played an instrumental role in identifying recent receiver commit Isaiah Epps, and was also a big part of his recruitment.
Kentucky's other quality control assistants, besides Mangino, are Brian Landis and Louie Matsakis. Landis was the safeties coach at Eastern Kentucky prior to joining Stoops staff while Matsakis was the special teams coordinator at Kansas in his last job. Matsakis, who helps with special teams now, also has experience as a Director of Personnel (Kansas).
It's also possible that Stoops could look at outside candidates to fill a hypothetical 10th assistant coaching spot.