Vince Marrow is highest-paid tight ends coach in college football

On Saturday afternoon, Kentucky assistant coach Vince Marrow wrapped up his second top-200 recruiting win of the 2025 cycle when Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman safety Martels Carter committed to Kentucky. The 55-year-old Youngstown native has consistently recruited Ohio at a high level for head coach Mark Stoops, but Marrow has turned up the head in-state in recent cycles as Kentucky has consistently landed the top player in Kentucky and now has signed 25 in-state prospects over the last five recruiting cycles. Carter could make that No. 26.

Vince Marrow plays a big role in Kentucky’s recruiting operation and is paid well for it. In 2023, Marrow is made $1.2 million. Football Scoop reports that Marrow is the highest-paid tight ends coach in college football.

1.) Vince Marrow (Kentucky): $1.2 million

2.) Jeff Banks (Texas): $1.15 million

3.) Des Kitchings (Virginia): $875,000

T-4.) Robert Anae (NC State) and Todd Hartley (Georgia): $850,000

T-6.) Shawn Elliott (South Carolina) and Buster Faulkner (Georgia Tech): $750,000

8.) Chris Thomsen (Florida State): $625,000

T-9.) Drew Mehringer (Oregon) and Kyle Richardson (Clemson): $600,000

Kitchings, Anae, and Faulkner are each power conference offensive coordinators. Banks is the special teams coordinator at Texas. Kentucky is setting the market for tight ends coach pay. Marrow is set to make $1.3 million in 2024 after agreeing to a three-year contract extension in 2022.

The Big Dog is paid well. Another pay raise could be arriving after the 2024 season following a strong recent recruiting run. Carter became Marrow’s sixth top-300 recruiting win of the last two cycles joining Brian Robinson, Terhyon Nichols, Jerod Smith II, Jacob Smith, and Marquise Davis. Wide receiver commit Quintin Simmons sits just outside the top-300 at No. 308 overall in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.

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