Kentucky football hires Derek Shay as tight ends coach: What to know about new assistant

• Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops promoted Derek Shay to tight ends coach, replacing Vince Marrow.
• Shay has served as a senior offensive analyst for the Wildcats since March 2024 and has previous coaching experience at multiple universities.
• Shay’s hiring has been praised by current Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus as well as former LSU coach Ed Orgeron.
• Shay’s hire was one day after Marrow left Kentucky to join rival Louisville’s staff.

LEXINGTON — Mark Stoops didn’t take long to find his new tight ends coach. Nor did he have to look far.

Stoops, entering his 13th season as Kentucky football‘s coach, named Derek Shay to the position Friday. The announcement came one day after Vince Marrow, who had served in the role for the first 12 years of Stoops’ tenure, switched sides in the Bluegrass rivalry, becoming Louisville‘s executive director of player personnel and recruiting.

Stoops didn’t need to leave the Joe Craft Football Training Facility to find Marrow’s replacement: Shay already was part of the Wildcats‘ staff.

Here’s what to know about Shay, UK’s newest assistant coach:

Shay has been part of UK’s support staff since March 2024. He worked as a senior offensive analyst/run game specialist the last 16 months.

Prior to joining Kentucky, Shay was Marshall‘s tight ends coach (2023-24).

He also has worked for Missouri (senior offensive analyst; 2022-23), LSU (graduate assistant/tight ends; 2020-22), McNeese State (tight ends/offensive tackles; 2019-20), IMG Academy (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line; 2017-19), Warren Central High School in Indianapolis (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line; 2015-17), Bowling Green (graduate assistant/tight ends; 2014-15) and Eastern Illinois (student assistant/tight ends/offensive line; 2011-13).

An Illinois native, Shay started his college career at Western Illinois, where he played on the offensive line. He later transferred to Eastern Illinois. Shay received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois in 2013 and earned his master’s degree from LSU in 2021.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity that coach Stoops and (offensive coordinator) coach (Bush) Hamdan have given me,” Shay said in a statement. “There is a good mix of experience and young talent in the tight end room and I’m looking forward to coaching them. Additionally, being a part of the Big Blue Nation is truly an honor and I’m ready to get to work and represent this incredible fanbase in this new role.”

“We are fortunate to have someone already on our staff who has coached tight ends at a high level and led those rooms successfully,” Stoops said. “He is familiar with coach Hamdan’s system and I’m very confident in his abilities.

“His versatility, football IQ, and on-field toughness will be a valuable addition to our offense.”

“We get to see every day how coach Shay operates and the intensity he brings, and we are excited to have him leading our room. He knows our system inside and out, and he’s incredibly passionate about the game and coaching. Adding him to our room is a seamless transition.”

— Josh Kattus, Kentucky senior tight end

“Derek is a very knowledgeable coach with an outstanding work ethic. Our players and coaches at LSU loved him — not just as a coach, but as a man. He’s an outstanding recruiter with tireless energy and a passion for developing young talent. Additionally, he’s a great family man who brings character and integrity to everything he does. The University of Kentucky is getting a great one. He’s a great hire.”

— Ed Orgeron, former LSU head football coach

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack. 

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