Chad Wilt will bring decades of experience and a proven track record of player development for Kentucky.
Kentucky Football is expected to hire Chad Wilt as its next linebackers coach, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, adding a highly experienced defensive assistant to Will Stein’s staff as the Wildcats continue to reshape their defense under new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.
Wilt most recently served as Michigan State’s co-special teams coordinator and rush ends coach, a role he held from 2024-25. He brings more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including extensive time in the Big Ten at Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota, and Maryland. Notably, Wilt has previously worked alongside Bateman at both Army West Point and Ball State, giving Kentucky immediate schematic familiarity on the defensive side.
During his career, Wilt has coached six future NFL Draft picks and numerous all-conference performers. At Indiana, he developed first-team All-Big Ten linebacker Aaron Casey, who led the conference in tackles for loss in 2023 and later earned an NFL opportunity with the Cincinnati Bengals. His Minnesota stint also stands out, as the Gophers ranked among the nation’s best defenses in 2021, anchored by future NFL standouts Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo.
Wilt’s coaching career includes stops at Army, Cincinnati, Maryland, Ball State, Richmond, Liberty, and Virginia, with consistent success in both defensive line and linebacker development, along with special teams coordination. His units have routinely ranked among conference and national leaders in sacks, tackles for loss and scoring defense.
For Kentucky, the anticipated hire signals an emphasis on experience, player development, and continuity within Bateman’s defensive vision. If finalized, Wilt would immediately bolster a linebackers room that will be critical to the Wildcats’ SEC success moving forward.
Category: General Sports
