In a press conference on Monday, head coach Mark Stoops announced that Eric Wolford will be returning to the University of Kentucky football program as the offensive line coach. Wolford previously served as Kentucky’s offensive line coach in 2021 before spending the last two seasons at Alabama. However, his hiring is still contingent upon the University’s pre-employment screenings and other due diligence.
“We are excited to bring Eric Wolford back to Kentucky,” Stoops said. “Eric had a big impact in the year he spent with us and has only gained more SEC experience after working with Coach Saban and Alabama the last two seasons. Eric and I go way back and I’m looking forward to having him return to our program.”
During his time at Alabama in 2023, Wolford guided an offensive line that helped block for the fourth-best scoring offense in the Southeastern Conference and the 23rd best in the nation. The Crimson Tide offense averaged 34.0 points per game and recorded 172.9 rushing yards per game, ranking in the top half of the SEC and top 50 in the nation. Their offensive line also provided protection for quarterback Jalen Milroe, who had impressive passing stats.
“I am thrilled to be back at Kentucky and have the opportunity to work with Coach Stoops and Liam Coen again,” Wolford said. “Stoops and I have a long history and he’s one of the best coaches I’ve worked for during my career. Liam is one of the brightest minds in football, and I loved my experience with the Big Blue Wall. My family also loves this community and we are excited to get back here.”
Wolford’s previous coaching experience includes stints at South Carolina, the San Francisco 49ers, and Youngstown State University. He has also coached at other college programs such as Arizona, North Texas, Houston, and South Florida.
In his first season with Kentucky in 2021, Wolford rebuilt the offensive line that had lost three starters and turned it into a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top offensive line. The Wildcats averaged 5.23 yards per carry that season, leading the nation in rush attempts that went for four yards or more. Two players from that season’s offensive line, Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard, earned All-SEC honors and are currently playing in the NFL.
Overall, Wolford’s coaching career has been marked by success in developing offensive lines and helping teams achieve postseason success. With his return to Kentucky, the Wildcats can look forward to continued improvement in their offensive line play under Wolford’s guidance.
