Jon Hale

@JonHale_CJ

LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK coach Mark Stoops has officially filled one of his coaching staff vacancies with the hire of former EKU head coach Dean Hood as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

The Courier-Journal reported Thursday Hood was at the top of Stoops’ list for the job and likely to be hired early this week. North Texas assistant coach Derrick LeBlanc is expected to be hired as the defensive line coach later this week.

Hood, who Stoops’ also pursued for his special teams coordinator position after the 2015 season, spent the last year as assistant head coach and tight ends coach at Charlotte. He was hired at Charlotte after eight seasons at EKU, where he compiled a 55-38 record as head coach. Hood also previously served as a defensive coordinator at Wake Forest (2001-07), EKU (1994-98) and Glenville State (1990-93).

“I could not be more excited to have Coach Hood join our staff,” Stoops said in a release announcing the hire. “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.”

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Hood replaces former defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot on Stoops’ staff. Eliot accepted a position as Colorado’s new defensive coordinator in January, and Stoops promoted former special teams coordinator Matt House to replace Eliot as the defensive coordinator position on his staff.

“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.”

According to a USA Today database, Hood was paid $169,000 per year at Charlotte. Eliot was paid $575,000 annually at UK, but new contracts for the recently promoted House, who was paid $275,000 per year as special teams coordinator, or Hood have not yet been released by the school.

Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JonHale_CJ.