Mark Stoops, the head coach of Kentucky football, has made two staff updates. He has promoted C.J. Conrad from graduate assistant to quality control coach for offense and hired Mike Priefer Jr. as quality control coach for special teams.

Conrad, who had been serving as an offensive graduate assistant since 2020, has been promoted to quality control coach for offense. Stoops said that Conrad is a great coach and mentor to the players and that he has a strong work ethic.

Conrad was a former Kentucky tight end and played for the Wildcats from 2015-2018. He signed with the New York Giants practice squad after finishing his UK career in 2019. Conrad played in 48 games and had 80 catches for 1,015 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during his Wildcats' career.

Priefer Jr. is the son of former NFL coach Mike Priefer and has almost two decades of pro coach experience. Stoops said that he is a young and passionate coach who brings his energy to the program.

Priefer Jr. comes to Kentucky after one season as the special teams coordinator, tight ends and fullback coach at Western Illinois. He was also the special teams coordinator at Northwood University in Michigan and a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Minnesota.

Priefer Jr. attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he was a three-time letterwinner and a two-year starter in the defensive backfield. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology sports pedagogy from Wisconsin-Eau Clair in 2017.

Kentucky Wildcats Football opens their season September 3rd with a game against Miami University (OH).

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