After spending 13 seasons coaching in the Bluegrass State, Dean Hood is making a return to Kentucky to work for the state’s flagship university. Kentucky officially announced his hiring Wednesday afternoon.
Hood has been named special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach for the Wildcats. Hood coached at Charlotte last season, serving as the school’s special team’s coordinator, tight ends coach, and assistant head coach.
“I could not be more excited to have Coach Hood join our staff,” Mark Stoops said via statement. “He brings extensive experience and knowledge as a head coach, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. Having watched him at Eastern Kentucky, I developed great respect for him and I know he is held in high regard by the high school coaches in the state. He is a welcome addition to our program.”
Before he took his position at Charlotte, Hood served as head coach of Eastern Kentucky from 2008-2015. While at Eastern Kentucky, Hood won two Ohio Valley Conference Championships, made three FCS Playoff appearances and had an overall record of 55-38 (59.1). Hood also has experience at the Power 5 level, as he served as Wake Forest’s defensive coordinator from 2001-07.
“I am from northeast Ohio and I take a lot of pride from being from there,” Hood said. “Being from Ohio I have followed the Stoops family for a long time and they are known for being tough, hard-working and family oriented. All of those things are important to me as well.
“When I was coaching at Wake Forest and we had to play against Florida State, I noticed how well the defense played once Coach Stoops got there. They were very tough to play against. Also, being 17 miles away at EKU, I was always impressed with him and the discipline of his program. I was impressed with how he presented himself in the media and public with an honest and let’s-go-to-work attitude and how they have put together a really good strategic recruiting plan. I’m excited and honored to be a part of his staff.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
