Cutter Leftwich Named Offensive Line Coach

Cutter Leftwich has been hired as Kentucky’s new offensive line coach, head coach Will Stein announced Thursday. He is currently Oregon’s assistant offensive line coach and run game coordinator.

“Cutter is a great addition to our staff,” Stein said. “He knows what it takes to build a tough, disciplined offensive line, and players have thrived under his leadership. I love his energy and how he pushes his players to be their best.”

Leftwich has spent two of the past three seasons with the Ducks’ high-powered offense, with a one-year stint at North Texas as offensive line coach in between.

The Ducks, along with Leftwich and Stein, are currently still in search of a national title, having earned a berth in the College Football Playoffs. They are set to host James Madison on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to coach at Kentucky and to continue working alongside Coach Stein,” Leftwich said. “This will be my fourth season working with him, and the success we’ve had together is something we’re eager to bring to the Big Blue Nation. I can’t wait to build on the rich history and tradition of outstanding offensive lines that have come through UK.”

After a season at North Texas, he returned to Eugene in 2025, helping Oregon rank fourth nationally in pass efficiency (100.96), ninth in scoring (38.2), 14^th in rushing (218.4) and 16^th in fewest sacks allowed. Oregon’s offensive line was recently named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation’s top unit, the only offensive unit to be named a finalist three years in a row.

In 2024, Leftwich was at North Texas as the offensive line coach. The Mean Green finished third nationally in total offense, was fourth in passing offense and 23^rd in scoring offense. Leftwich’s unit thrived despite using 10 different starting combinations in 13 games and starting two true freshmen. Those rookies, Braydon Nelson and Tyler Mercer, both garnered national freshman honors. Nelson was named to the Pro Football Focus All-True Freshman team, while Mercer earned a Football Writers’ Association Freshman All-America nod.

While the assistant offensive line coach with the Ducks in 2023, the unit was graded by PFF as the No. 1 or No. 2 line in both pass and run blocking. Oregon was second in the nation in scoring, total offense and pass offense and led the nation with just five sacks allowed. The Ducks allowed multiple sacks just once in 13 games while not allowing any sacks in nine games, including six of the last seven.  At season’s end, the O-line was a finalist for the prestigious Joe Moore Award.

With Leftwich’s help, Jackson Powers-Johnson was named the 2023 Rimington Trophy winner as the nation’s best center. He went on to be selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

In 2022, Leftwich was a graduate assistant at UCLA and helped the Bruins’ offensive line be named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. He tutored NFL-caliber talent while working with the Bruins, such as Jon Gaines, fourth-round pick by Arizona, and Antonio Mafi, fifth-round choice by New England.

Leftwich began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UTSA in 2021, tutoring Spencer Burford, a fourth-round NFL draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Denton, Texas native brings valuable firsthand experience from his playing days. He was the starting center at McNeese State in 20 games during the 2018 and 2019 seasons before an injury cut his career short.  He went on to earn a general studies degree from MSU in December of 2020.

Leftwich is married to the former Abbie Wieseler of Pierre, South Dakota.

Cutter Leftwich’s Coaching Career

For more information on the Kentucky football team, follow @UKFootball on Twitter and Instagram, or like Kentucky Football on Facebook.