[HT: Lexington Herald Leader]Rich Brooks has officially retired as head football coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. UK's head coach in waiting, Joker Phillips, is no longer waiting. The gig is his.
Those of us who have covered SEC football and crossed paths with Brooks hate to see him go because what he did at Kentucky is simply remarkable.
Three years into his tenure UK fans wanted Brooks run out of town. The Wildcats then ran off 4 consecutive bowl trips, never accomplished before in school history.
Brooks made Kentucky football matter in the bluegrass state.
Here's a list of Rich Brooks' accomplishments in his seven years as Kentucky head coach:
Became first coach in UK history to appear in four consecutive bowl games
Led the Wildcats to victory over eventual national champion LSU in 2007, the program’s first win over a No. 1 ranked team in 43 years. UK also reached the nation’s top ten for the first time in 30 years that season.
Guided Kentucky to its first bowl in seven seasons in 2006. UK finished 8-5 that season, its most wins in 22 years. Kentucky’s 28-20 victory over Clemson in the Music City Bowl was also the program’s first bowl win since 1984.
In 2009 led Kentucky to its first win over Auburn since 1966 and first road win at Georgia since 1977.
Finishes fourth all-time in UK history in wins behind Bear Bryant, Fran Curci, and Jerry Claiborne.
Became first coach in SEC history to hire an African-American offensive coordinator (Joker Phillips) and defensive coordinator (Steve Brown) at the same time.
Photo Courtesy: Charles Bertram/Lexington Herald Leader
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