Kentucky hires Jay Bateman as new Defensive Coordinator

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Will Stein has made another move to his staff, this time making his first defensive hire by bringing in defensive coordinator Jay Bateman from Texas A&M. Bateman had served as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. He is known as a strong recruiter and has solid ties to both Florida and Texas.

Bateman was a linebacker at Randolph-Macon in Virginia from 1991–94 before becoming a high school coach at Benedictine High School in Virginia for two years.

He eventually entered the college ranks at Siena as a defensive coordinator in 1999 before becoming the head coach the following year, a position he held for four seasons.

Most recently, Bateman has been in the SEC with stops at Florida (inside linebackers coach) and, more recently, Texas A&M (defensive coordinator).