Mark Stoops has added a familiar figure to his 2025 Kentucky football coaching team. Former UK quarterback Mike Hartline has joined the staff as an offensive quality control coach, the school announced on Thursday. “When I first got into coaching it was always in the back of my mind how thrilled I would be to return to Kentucky, and if the timing was right I wouldn’t hesitate to come back,” Hartline revealed in a press release. “My coaches made an incredible impact on me and I hope to return the favour.”I’ve been in touch with Coach Stoops throughout the years and admire the coaching staffs and teams he’s assembled to propel the program to where it is today.” From 2006 to 2010, Hartline played for Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips at the University of Kentucky. He initially won the starting quarterback role as a third-year sophomore in 2008, but was benched in favour of Randall Cobb late in the season.
His 2009 season was cut short by a knee injury, but he recovered to have one of the best statistical seasons by a UK quarterback in program history as a senior in 2010. He completed 66.2% of his throws that season, totaling 3,178 yards and 23 touchdowns. Only four Kentucky quarterbacks have ever passed for more yards in a single season. Hartline is the only UK quarterback to start three straight victories over Louisville. Since Hartline’s departure, no UK quarterback has thrown for over 3,000 yards in a single season.
Hartline signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent after leaving UK, but he never played in an NFL game. He began his coaching career as an intern at Ohio State in 2015. After two years at Ohio State, he moved on to Cincinnati (quality control), Division II Ohio Dominican (offensive coordinator), Auburn (offensive analyst), Charlotte (wide receivers coach), and Coastal Carolina (offensive analyst). Hartline, whose older brother Brian is allegedly being elevated to offensive coordinator at Ohio State, will work as a backup to offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan.
Last year, the NCAA amended its regulations so that quality control coaches and analysts other than the typical 11 full-time assistants might provide on-field guidance during practices and games. Last season, the UK hired six extra assistants in quality control or analyst positions. “We are excited for Mike Hartline to return to Kentucky,” Stoops stated in the announcement. “It was the right time and opportunity to bring him back and I know he will be an asset to our coaching staff.”
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