Mark Stoops on UK retaining DC Brad White: "I did not want to lose Brad"

When an assistant coach turns down a role with a high-pedigree school such as the LSU Tigers, it typically means the program he’s currently at is in good shape. When Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White effectively did that earlier this week, it was just another indicator that the Wildcats are serious about building a consistent contender.

White, who just finished up his fourth season on the Kentucky coaching staff and third as defensive coordinator, was reportedly a serious candidate for the same position with LSU. The Tigers’ new head coach Brian Kelly was even able to get White down to Baton Rouge for a meeting before ultimately turning down an offer.

KSR can report that LSU could have offered White an annual salary of up to $2 million. For reference, he is expected to make $925,000 next year at Kentucky, but that number will likely rise with news of his return.

Dollar figures aside, keeping White in Lexington is massive news. While the Big Blue Nation won’t have to wonder what would have happened had he left, it assuredly would have cracked the foundation of what is currently being built. White is an excellent recruiter and has produced some of the SEC’s best defenses during his few years as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator.

STOOPS on retaining DC Brad White: "We as an organization did not what to lose Brad…Very excited to keep Brad."

— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) December 16, 2021

“I did not want to lose Brad. We as an organization did not want to lose Brad,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said during Thursday’s National Signing Day press conference. “He is a quality man and great football coach. He’s a great person, great coach. Very selfless and he does a terrific job in all areas. He recruits at a high level, maybe not getting all the credit but recruiting all those defensive guys, evaluating those guys, does a terrific job.”

Even though Kentucky’s defense didn’t look as poised in 2021 as it had in recent years, that unit still finished ranked No. 26 in the country. In four years as a Wildcat, White has overseen three defensive units that all finished among the top 45 in the nation in terms of yards allowed per game. UK has long been known as a defense-first program under Stoops and White reinforces that.

And as Stoops mentioned, White’s recruiting prowess is underrated. He’s only credited with the signings of a handful of recruits, but when those players are high-star talents such as Trevin Wallace, Tyreese Fearbry, Quentel Jones, and Tomiwa Durojaiye, it’s clear White has a skill in that regard. He’s beginning to settle into his own as a recruiter, tapping into previously untouched territories such as Pittsburgh and the state of Delaware.

As the branding reach of Kentucky Football continues to expand, so will the ability to successfully recruit out of these areas. White has made sure to put his foot in the door early.

But keeping White in Lexington isn’t solely about his track record as a brilliant defensive-minded coach. He’s also a well-meaning human being and a positive on the team’s culture. Stoops previously hinted that White was donating his entire Citrus Bowl bonus to the tornado relief fund in order to help those in Western Kentucky who were affected by the natural disaster.

White preferred to keep that news quiet too, but Stoops wanted the public to know about it in hopes that others would follow in White’s lead.

“Really wants to fly under the radar,” Stoops said of White. “He did not want to mention this at all but before he even decided to turn down some very lucrative offers and stay with us, he donated his bowl bonus in its entirety and didn’t want anybody to know about it.”

Kentucky is now a program where assistants turn down more lucrative offers at bigger schools. UK is slowly turning into the one that can begin poaching others away. Retaining White was the first proof of that, and the future of Kentucky Football is still blindingly bright because of it.