Brad White Appears on a Coaching Hot Board for the First Time this Offseason

While most of Big Blue Nation’s attention is on Mark Stoops’ future, there’s another Kentucky football coach who could be primed to depart Lexington this offseason.

Brad White has been at the University of Kentucky for seven seasons. In six of those, he’s served as Stoops’ defensive coordinator, building one of the most consistent units in the SEC, rolling out one of the league’s top five scoring defenses in each of his first four years on the job.

White has drawn attention from other programs over the years. When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU ahead of the 2022 season, he aggressively pursued White to be his defensive coordinator. Ultimately, it wasn’t the right fit and White chose to remain at UK where he makes $1.7 million annually.

Seven years is a long time for an assistant, even a coordinator, to remain at one school. You’d have to be blind to not see that there are cracks in the dam. It may be the right time for White to look elsewhere. Less than a week after Adam Luckett mentioned that as a possibility on 11 Personnel, his name is on a hot board for a vacant defensive coordinator position.

On3’s Pete Nakos is plugged into the transfer portal and coaching carousel. After Mike Norvell fired his offensive and defensive coordinators, Nakos shared more than a dozen potential successors at Florida State. White was a candidate for the vacant defensive coordinator position.

After seven seasons at Kentucky, it might be time for a change of scenery for Brad White. He’s built the Wildcats into one of the top defenses in the SEC. Kentucky held opponents to 113.1 yards per game in 2023, which ranked second in the conference and 17th in the nation at the end of the season. The Wildcats also forced 18 turnovers in 13 games. A source told On3 White could be open to the move if he can bring in personnel. Kentucky again ranks in the top 35 in total defense and allows 20.78 points per game.

Pete Nakos, On3

Florida State is an absolute mess, following up an undefeated campaign with what will likely be a 1-win season. Even so, Florida State has the resources to create a CFB Playoff contender. They can get the players and well-compensate the coaching staff. There might even be an option for White to bring his own assistants or players from Kentucky.

Obviously, it’s still very early in the process. This is the first Hot Board two days after two coordinators were fired.

Regardless of what’s happening at Florida State right now, big change is coming to the Kentucky football program this offseason. Players may not be the only ones hitting the transfer portal in December. We’ll be keeping a close eye on White and the schools who may be pursuing the talented defensive coordinator.

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