LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a swift move to stabilize its front office, Kentucky football has promoted Pete Nochta to general manager, a day after Pat Biondo stepped down from the position for personal reasons .
Nochta, who joined the Wildcats in January as assistant general manager, will now oversee player evaluation, roster management, and recruiting strategy . The promotion was announced Wednesday, July 29, 2026 .
Pat Biondo, who followed head coach Will Stein from Oregon, resigned on Tuesday, July 28, after just seven months on the job . Biondo described the decision as a “personal move” in a statement and asked for privacy regarding the matter .
“After much thought, I have made the decision to leave UK. This is a personal move and I hope everyone will respect the private nature of such a tough decision,” Biondo said . “It has been a privilege to work for a great university, wonderful football program and on behalf of such passionate fans” .
Kentucky Athletics also issued a statement respecting his choice and thanking him for his contributions . Biondo was a key hire for Stein, who was “thrilled” to bring him on board last December .
Pete Nochta was considered a natural successor given his integral role in building the program’s personnel foundation over the past seven months . Both Stein and athletics director J Batt expressed strong confidence in the promotion .
“Pete has earned this opportunity through the work he’s done since arriving at Kentucky in January,” Stein said in a statement. “He’s been an invaluable part of building our roster and establishing the foundation of our personnel operation, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead that area moving forward” .
Batt echoed that sentiment, stating, “Pete has been a key contributor to the strong start our football program has made. He has helped build a strong foundation in recruiting, roster management and player evaluation, and we’re excited for him to take on this role” .
Nochta’s hire marks a significant reunion in the program. He was a former teammate of Stein’s at Louisville, where they played together from 2006-2010 . Before joining Kentucky, Nochta spent 10 years at the Cardinals’ rival, Louisville, serving most recently as their director of recruiting . He is also a Lexington native and the son of a former Kentucky football letterman .
The change in general manager comes as the Wildcats football program continues to evolve in the modern college athletics landscape. Stein took over the program last December and Biondo was his first major front-office hire, tasked with navigating the complexities of recruiting and the transfer portal . Nochta, who was hired alongside Biondo in December 2025, will now take on the top personnel role full-time .
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