National Media Reactions to Vince Marrow's move from Kentucky to Louisville

There is no bigger news in Kentucky — and maybe even all of the SEC — than Vince Marrow turning his back on 12 years with Mark Stoops in Lexington to join the Wildcats’ bitter in-state rival at Louisville. The man who once threw Ls down every chance he could and curb-stomped the Cardinals in recruiting is now one himself, trading out the blue for red and good for evil.

Needless to say, there are thoughts on the move and they’re coming in hot, essentially everyone on the same page: this ain’t good for Stoops or the Cats.

KSR has gathered some of the top national media reactions to the news — with plenty more to come.

Paul Finebaum (SEC Network)

The news broke while Finebaum was live on the air, and his immediate reactions were fairly damning for Kentucky football. After beating the Wildcats to a pulp last November, the leading voice of the SEC said Marrow’s move to Louisville is yet another ‘body blow’ to a program ‘that was bleeding’ as is.

When it rains, it pours.

“If you’re a Kentucky football fan, you know the most valuable person on your staff is Vince Marrow,” Finebaum said. “He’s been the best recruiter, incredible recruiter and Kentucky has done everything imaginable to keep him there. Guess what? He’s leaving to become the general manager at Louisville, right down the road, finalizing a three-year deal.

“This is an absolute body blow to Mark Stoops’ Kentucky football program. That was already a football program that was bleeding. The last two years have been abysmal for Mark Stoops, so this could not have come at a worse time. It is a significant story. This is the guy that literally ran the football operation there in terms of personnel. It’s a very big story.”

Shehan Jeyarajah (CBS Sports)

“This is a monster hire for Louisville, and also probably says a lot about where Kentucky football sees itself,” he said in a tweet.

Then, he decided to write a column about the impact of Marrow’s departure — and why the Wildcats are in trouble because of it.

“Kentucky has always been a difficult job, but the situation is teetering on impossible now,” he wrote. “A 16-team SEC means far more stacked schedules than ever before, and Kentucky faces its fair share of SEC contenders this fall. The new revenue-sharing model also means that Kentucky’s athletic department will have to figure out how to best divvy up dollars between football and men’s basketball; the football team figures to rank among the lowest percentage in the SEC. 

“Louisville has some of its own questions to answer in order to best manage funds between football and both successful basketball programs. However, Brohm is a star on the way up. He led Purdue to 17 wins in his final two seasons, posted a 30-10 record at Western Kentucky and now has Louisville in the ACC race. It’s hard to view this is anything less than Marrow tying his career to Brohm as Kentucky football falters.”

Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports)

Sharing Jeyarajah’s column, the national analyst made his point clear in few words.

“This is a huge win for Jeff Brohm and Louisville, and a tough blow to Mark Stoops and Kentucky,” he said.

Myron Medcalf (ESPN)

Friend of the program Myron Medcalf acknowledged Marrow’s constant search for the green grass on the other side, ultimately finding it in Louisville.

That sets up for one heck of a Governor’s Cup battle on November 29.

“The subject of rumors every season in recent years before he eventually announced his return to Kentucky but this one is real. And it’s shocking,” Medcalf said. “Whew. Should be a fun game, man.”

The subject of rumors every season in recent years before he eventually announced his return to Kentucky but this one is real. And it’s shocking. Whew. Should be a fun game, man. https://t.co/YuFAiHsze7

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) June 9, 2025

Zach Barnett (Football Scoop)

Some of the nation’s top news-breakers at Football Scoop — they’ve written plenty about Marrow — loved the addition for the Cardinals while highlighting the value of hiring a GM in today’s era of college athletics.

“The move is a major swipe across the brow for Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm — who snapped U of L’s 5-game Commonwealth Cup losing streak to UK with a 41-14 blowout win last November — and a sign of the growing value of personnel executives in college football,” Barnett said.

John Brice (Football Scoop)

His coworker hit deeper on the Kentucky angle and the ongoing pessimism in Lexington.

“The man to whom Mark Stoops has been enduringly loyal & kept getting PAID has bounced from the Wildcats to go to archrival (Louisville) after earlier mulling a (UNC Football) offer on Bill Belichick’s staff as we (at Football Scoop) earlier reported. Kentucky football is reeling,” Brice added.

Aaron Torres (Fox Sports)

A sign of things to come with Mark Stoops? It’s hard not to connect those dots.

“Vince Marrow was the back-bone for Kentucky football’s rise the last decade, and key recruiter on some of the best players they ever landed,” Torres wrote. “Him leaving – let alone for their biggest rival – is a pretty good indication that he doesn’t expect Mark Stoops to be in town much longer.”

Vince Marrow was the back-bone for Kentucky football's rise the last decade, and key recruiter on some of the best players they ever landed.

Him leaving – let alone for their biggest rival – is a pretty good indication that he doesnt expect Mark Stoops to be in town much longer https://t.co/9hr3IoC3YM

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) June 9, 2025