David Lockwood Named Kentucky DB Coach

Former Minnesota defensive coordinator David Lockwood is the new defensive backs coach at Kentucky. Lockwood was let go when head coach Glen Mason was fired after losing to Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl.

David Lockwood comes to UK from the University of Minnesota, where he spent the last five seasons, including 2005 and ’06 as the defensive coordinator. The Gophers advanced to bowl games in all five of his years with the team, including three victories. Minnesota had played in only seven bowl games in school history prior to Lockwood joining the staff. He coached defensive backs his first three years with the Gophers and worked with the linebackers the last two seasons.

Lockwood is an 18-year coaching veteran, including six seasons coaching in the secondary. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, West Virginia, in 1989. He also coached at Delaware (1990-93, tight ends and wide receivers), James Madison (1994, TE/WR), Memphis (1995-98 WR, 1999 defensive backs), West Virginia (2000, DB), and Notre Dame (2001, cornerbacks).

While Lockwood was at Delaware, the Blue Hens won two Yankee Conference championships and advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs three years. His ’94 team at James Madison also played in the I-AA playoffs.

Although he coached defensive backs just one year at Memphis, Lockwood had three of his DBs – Reginald Howard, Michael Stone, and Idrees Bashir – play several years in the National Football League. In the 2000 season at West Virginia, the Mountaineers finished ninth in the nation with 19 interceptions and defeated Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl. In his one season at Notre Dame, the Irish were 10th in the nation in pass defense. He also worked current Wildcat offensive coordinator Joker Phillips during his year in South Bend.

“This is an opportunity to be a program that’s jumping to the next level,” Lockwood said. “All I heard about Coach Brooks is that he’s a great guy to work for and I knew Joker Phillips from my year at Notre Dame. I’m excited to be part of a program that’s on the way up and plays in a great conference.”

A native of Media, Pa. (near Philadelphia), Lockwood was a four-year letterman and three-year starter as a defensive back at West Virginia. Lockwood played in two bowl games and was a member of the ’88 WVU squad that posted an 11-0 regular-season record.

Lockwood and his wife, Heidi, have three children – daughter Autumn and sons David Jr. and Jeffrey.