KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kentucky defensive coordinator Matt House wanted to join the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive coaching staff, according to a report from ESPN, but the Wildcats blocked the move.
ESPN's Field Yates reported Friday that House was set to become the Chiefs’ new linebackers coach.
Source: the Chiefs are expected to hire University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Matt House as their linebackers coach.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 8, 2019
Apparently, that didn't sit well with the Wildcats. House recently finished his third season as Kentucky's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach — and now he's going to remain there.
So regarding Matt House, who was expected to be the Chiefs’ new LB coach:
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 10, 2019
I’m told UK decided not to let him out of his deal...but they only did that AFTER they’d agreed to negotiate the buyout. Tough break for House, who wanted to join the Chiefs, and KC.
House previously served as an assistant special teams coach with the Carolina Panthers in 2008 and an assistant linebackers coach with the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11. He returned to the college ranks in 2012 as a secondary coach at the University of Pittsburgh, which finished 20th in the country in pass defense that season.
He was promoted to defensive coordinator the next two seasons, leading the Panthers to top-35 rankings in total defense both seasons.
House, who coached future NFL star Aaron Donald during that 2013 season, landed at Florida International in 2015 after a coaching change at Pittsburgh.
He was hired as inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Kentucky a year later and ascended to defensive coordinator in 2017, helping the Wildcats improve from the No. 86 scoring defense in 2016 to the sixth-ranked scoring defense last fall.
Kentucky didn’t allow a first down in the second half of a 15-14 comeback win Oct. 27 at Missouri during the 2018 season.
House’s coaching career also includes stops at Michigan State, North Carolina, Gardner-Webb and the University of Buffalo after he graduated in 2000 from Michigan State.
