Today, Rich Brooks announced that he was retiring as the University of Kentucky’s head football coach. Brooks, who came to UK, in 2003 led the CATS while on a harsh NCAA probation to respectability. He leaves Kentucky as #5 in wins with an overall record of 39 wins and 47 losses. Rich’s tenure was especially strained after the 1st 3 seasons when his Wildcats won 9 games and lost 25 games. The last 4 years, of his tenure was marked by UK reaching the 4 consecutive bowl appearances which is unprecedented by Kentucky standards.
The only other coaches with more wins during their tenures at UK include: Paul “Bear” Bryant (60), Fran Curci (47) and Jerry Claiborne and Blanton Collier (each tied with 41 wins). The now former coach went 30 and 22 over the last 4 seasons which qualified the CATS for 3 Music City Bowls (2006, 2007, and 2009). After the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Brooks led Kentucky to MCB wins over Clemson and Florida State respectively. For the 2008 season, Rich led the team to a Liberty Bowl win over East Carolina in Memphis TN. The only bowl loss he suffered while at UK was a 21-13 loss to Clemson at the end of the 2009 season.
Brooks’ won/loss collegiate career record is 130/156/4 while serving as Head coach at both Oregon and UK. He also served as the St. Louis Rams Head Coach in the 1990s where his record was 13 wins and 19 losses. With Brooks' retirement, Joker Phillips (the former Head Coach in Waiting) now assumes leadership of the team.
Among Brooks’ accomplishments while serving as Head Coach at UK includes:
*Defeating the #1 team in College Football (LSU in 2007)
*Leading the CATS to 4 consecutive Bowl Games (a 1st for Wildcat Football-2006 to 2009 seasons)
*Leading the CATS to 3 consecutive Bowl Wins (a 1st for Wildcat Football-2006 to 2008 seasons)
*Successfully leading UK to respectability after a harsh probation
*SEC Coach of the Year 2009
*39/47 Won and Loss Record placing him #5 in wins while coaching at UK
*3 Road wins in the SEC for the 2009 season (Auburn, Georgia, and Vandy)
The only other coaches with more wins during their tenures at UK include: Paul “Bear” Bryant (60), Fran Curci (47) and Jerry Claiborne and Blanton Collier (each tied with 41 wins). The now former coach went 30 and 22 over the last 4 seasons which qualified the CATS for 3 Music City Bowls (2006, 2007, and 2009). After the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Brooks led Kentucky to MCB wins over Clemson and Florida State respectively. For the 2008 season, Rich led the team to a Liberty Bowl win over East Carolina in Memphis TN. The only bowl loss he suffered while at UK was a 21-13 loss to Clemson at the end of the 2009 season.
Brooks’ won/loss collegiate career record is 130/156/4 while serving as Head coach at both Oregon and UK. He also served as the St. Louis Rams Head Coach in the 1990s where his record was 13 wins and 19 losses. With Brooks' retirement, Joker Phillips (the former Head Coach in Waiting) now assumes leadership of the team.
Among Brooks’ accomplishments while serving as Head Coach at UK includes:
*Defeating the #1 team in College Football (LSU in 2007)
*Leading the CATS to 4 consecutive Bowl Games (a 1st for Wildcat Football-2006 to 2009 seasons)
*Leading the CATS to 3 consecutive Bowl Wins (a 1st for Wildcat Football-2006 to 2008 seasons)
*Successfully leading UK to respectability after a harsh probation
*SEC Coach of the Year 2009
*39/47 Won and Loss Record placing him #5 in wins while coaching at UK
*3 Road wins in the SEC for the 2009 season (Auburn, Georgia, and Vandy)
I just hope people give Joker the chance he deserves. A lot of fans have started to become critical of him for the offense. I find that frustrating because a lot of factors have gone in to why the offense is where it is that are outside of his play calling. I think Joker has done a good job with his play calling for the most part. Of course you can questions a game here or a call there. You can do that with anyone.
ReplyDeleteHaving Said all of that, I am sad to see Brooks go. He has made UK football fun to watch. He brought us out of the bowels of probation and laid a solid foundation to build on. Joker does have a job to push the Cats to the next level.
Joker will get his chance but the fans will be critical of something. True fans are entitled to such as we are there through thick and thin. I for one wouldnt say his playcalling was good. Fair at best I think but that is my thoughts on the previous 2 years. The past 2 have been a far cry from his previous seasons running the offense. However that is my opinion as yours is different and that is why we are a great nation of big blue faithful. We shall see what the future holds. It is my hope that Joker has more time to close deals on the recruiting trail now that he is the head man. We do now have a UK alum and a Kentucky boy as our head coach and that is nice. Further I have known the families of past recruits and each and every person that has had an interaction with Joker has just gushed about how great he is. Heres to continued success for what we love so much!
ReplyDeleteMickey
Mickey, you are correct, we can hold our opinions. and disagree. And I disagree with you. Joker has HAD to adjust his play calling to the talent he has available. Receivers haven't stepped up. Hartline did not have the down field strength to extend the field like Woodson. And when Newton came in, he was extremely green because they were going to redshirt him. He had very little practice experience, much less game time experience. We had nagging little injuries, tight ends who couldn't catch a ball, and lost our starting QB. Joker did a great job of calling to our stengths. A lot of people wanted to use Cobb more, but he is a little guy. You can't run it through him every down.
ReplyDelete