John Schlarman to receive Broyles Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Kentucky Wildcats offensive line coach John Schlarman has been given posthumously the Broyles Lifetime Achievement Award, it was announced today by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation.

Schlarman, who was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in the summer of 2018, also known as bile duct cancer, continued to coach while undergoing through countless treatments and their side effects. His development of Kentucky’s offensive paved the way for one of the best stretches in program history, as the Wildcats went 18-8 from 2018-19 with wins over Florida in Gainesville, Penn State in the Citrus Bowl, and Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl, all while he was fighting for his life against cancer.

Schlarman’s final game on the sidelines was Oct. 17 of this year vs. Tennessee in what was the Cats’ first win in Knoxville since 1984, a 34-7 beatdown of the Vols.

Schlarman passed away just three weeks later on Nov. 12.

During the last four seasons, Kentucky has broken many school records, including single-season records for most rushing yards, most rushing touchdowns, and most rushing yards per attempt. In 2016, ‘19 and ‘20, Schlarman’s Cats were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, which is annually given to the nation’s top offensive line.

Individually, guards Logan Stenberg and Bunchy Stallings earned All-America honors under Schlarman. Stenberg, Stallings, centers Jon Toth and Drake Jackson, and tackle Landon Young received All-SEC accolades. They helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the 2016-19 seasons in Boom Williams, Benny Snell Jr. and Lynn Bowden Jr.

Snell hit the 1,000-yard mark three times and left as the school’s all-time leading rusher.

This season, the Wildcats ranked fifth in the SEC in rushing at 187.7 yards per game. Redshirt sophomore running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. averaged 6.9 yards per carry, which leads the SEC and ranks 12th nationally.

Thanks for all the great memories, John.