By Matt Browning

The University of Kentucky Wildcats unveiled a new field at Nutter Field House prior to the start of the 2023 season. The field is dedicated to and named after former Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks and his wife Karen.

Hellas was chosen to design and install the field, who also manufactured and installed the same Matrix Helix® turf at Kroger Field, which is where the Wildcats play their home games.

Brooks coached at Kentucky from 2003-09 leading the Wildcats to four consecutive bowl games. The Wildcats’ success has continued under current head coach Mark Stoops, who has guided Kentucky to eight consecutive bowl games.

“Kentucky has seen great success in recent years and the upgrade to Hellas’ Matrix Helix synthetic turf system at both Nutter Field House and Kroger Field are reflections of where this first-class program is headed,” said Hellas Business Development Manager Jimmy Redovian.

The Wildcats have won four bowl games since 2018 at Kentucky and have produced two ten-win seasons in the past five years. They finished the 2023 season 7-6, with an appearance in the Gator Bowl.