For the first and what will likely be the only time of his life, Vince Marrow was the most wanted man in college football last week.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native has proven himself extremely valuable as Mark Stoops' associate head coach, tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, helping Kentucky become the top exporter of Ohio's high school football talent.
So it was extremely fortunate for him that Mel Tucker took the Michigan State job and, armed with a whopping $6 million to spend on his assistants, approached his old friend with a big ol' bag.
After a series of offers, counter-offers and counters to the counter-offers, Marrow announced Friday he would remain in Lexington.
On Monday, we learned what Marrow's continued employment will cost Kentucky.
Kentucky signed Marrow to a whopper of a contract for an assistant coach: 3 years, $900,000 per year.
Marrow will now earn as much as offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, and more than any position coach in college football. The only other non-coordinators to earn $900,000 per year in 2019 -- Georgia's Sam Pittman and Ohio State's Mike Yurcich -- both left for promotions.
The new contract represents a 50 percent raise over Marrow's $600,000 salary in 2019 and incomprehensible 414 percent raise from the $175,000 he earned in his first year at Kentucky in 2013.
“(Tucker) really wanted me, and they really made an effort, so it was hard,” Marrow told the Louisville Courier-Journal on Saturday. “The last three days, yes I got a raise, but I wouldn't wish that situation on anyone, especially when it is two friends (to work for).
“Now I know how recruits feel when they're down to two schools and one day it's this school and the next day it's this school. Anything can trigger (a decision). But, I just have to say, the eight years I've spent here, they've really invested in me and it really meant something. That really played a big part. … I'm not just throwing that out. This is a really great administration to work for.”
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.