UC Announces Kerry Coombs Is Staying On Football Staff

The Cincinnati native isn't leaving Clifton anytime soon.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Dec 9, 2022 4:07 PM EST

In this story:

CINCINNATI — One of Cincinnati's top assistants last season is sticking with the program.

Current interim head coach Kerry Coombs is staying on Scott Satterfield's staff as the special teams coordinator and secondary coach. The fresh three-year deal cements Coombs into UC's new staff.

Coombs made it clear on Thursday that he didn't want to discuss his future, and now he won't have to. "West Side Jesus" is staying in his hometown.

“We’re excited to keep Coach Coombs on our staff,” Satterfield said in a press release. “His energy is contagious. He’s an excellent motivator and developer of young men on and off the field."

The Colerain native has worked as a football coach in Ohio his entire career, save for one season (Tennessee Titans DBs coach in 2018).

Most of that has been right here in Cincinnati. Coombs was the head coach at Colerain High School from 1991-06, and coached at Cincinnati from 2007-11, before returning home in 2022.

"His resume here in Cincinnati, but also in the NFL and at Ohio State, speaks for itself," Satterfield continued. "He’s respected throughout the country. Interacting with him this past week and watching him serve as the interim head coach, I’ve been very impressed, and I know he will be a perfect fit for what we are building here.”

Coombs is leading Fenway Bowl preparation ahead of the game on Dec. 17 and should be an invaluable recruiting voice in the Cincinnati-area as Satterfield starts really focusing on this region for the first time.

Coombs did a nice job launching 2022 first-team All-AAC corner Ja'Quan Sheppard into his first full season as a starter. Then on special teams, the coordinator got great results. UC ranked second nationally in net punting (44.69), 14th in kick return defense (16.9), 17th in punt return defense (3.5), and 21st in punt return average (11.4).

It resulted in a Special Teams Player of the Year Award for Mason Fletcher—who is also returning in 2023.

Retaining Coombs is a great way to marry the Bearcats' recent history of success and the new version of this team that Satterfield is building.

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