It’s official: Turner, Summers join football staff

Not really any new news here, considering we had been expecting this announcement to be coming for some time, but Mike Summers has been named UK’s new offensive line coach and David Turner has been named UK’s new defensive line coach.

UK players celebrate with the Governor's Cup after beating Louisville 31-27 this year. Photo by Britney McIntosh | Staff.

Summers comes to UK from Arkansas, where he was a member of Bobby Petrino’s staff there. He coached with Petrino at Louisville earlier in his career, and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UK in the early 1980’s. Ironically, he helped recruit current UK head coach Joker Phillips when he was on the UK staff then.

“I’m so excited and energized about being back in Lexington,” Summers said in a UK athletics statement.  “We’ve stayed in contact with each other (since their first time together at Kentucky) and when I received a call from him, I felt really fortunate that he wants me on the staff.  I’m here to do everything I can to support him.  He has a great vision of what he wants for this program and a passion for wanting this to be a family atmosphere and those are things that are very encouraging to me.”

Turner spent the last couple seasons in Starkville, Miss., coaching the defensive line there. He also coached at UK earlier in his career, tutoring the defensive ends in 1993 and 1994.

“The biggest factor in the decision to come back was the opportunity to work for my friend and help him continue to grow this program,” Turner said in a UK athletics statement.  “When we were here before, people were very good to me and my family and Lexington is a great place to live.”

He’ll replace Rick Petri, who had coached the defensive line since 2005. Summers replaces the now-departed Jimmy Heggins, who had coached the offensive line since 2005.

The moves are considered to be upgrades that will help Phillips in his attempt to increase UK’s recruiting prowess.

There’ll be a media opportunity tomorrow before the Arkansas game with the two new additions and Phillips. We’ll be there, so check back for an update on the situation. We may find out if there are any more moves to come on the coaching staff or if this completes the staff for 2010.