Kentucky O-line coach John Schlarman dies of cancer at 45

Updated Nov. 12, 2020 6:28 p.m. ET

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — John Schlarman, the Kentucky offensive line coach who was an All-Southeastern Conference player for the Wildcats, has died after a two-year fight with cancer. He was 45.

The school announced Schlarman’s death from cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, in a news release Thursday after being notified by his wife.

Schlarman was diagnosed in the summer of 2018 but continued to coach through treatments and had become an inspiration in the community.

He was most recently on the sideline for Kentucky’s

After Thursday's practice Stoops said, "One thing about John that everybody will tell you is that he was here with a strong, positive attitude every day. He essentially came in here and worked and coached until it was the bitter end for him.

“And the best way we can honor him is go out there and play the very best we can. I know I want to coach as if John was with me standing next to me.”

Added athletic director Mitch Barnhart: “Throughout the last two years, he has been an incredible inspiration. He taught people how to live and showed all of us what it means to be courageous.”

Schlarman was an original member of Stoops’ staff in 2013 and helped build Kentucky into a program that has recorded four consecutive winning seasons with two bowl victories. Guards Logan Stenberg and Bunchy Stallings have become All-America selections during Schlarman's guiding the offensive line.

The Fort Thomas native was a four-year starter with the Wildcats from 1994-97 and earned first team All-SEC honors as a senior. Schlarman was a three-year member of the SEC academic honor roll. He previously coached the offensive line at Troy University from 2007-12 and was head coach at Bourbon County and Campbell County high schools in the state.

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Logan Stenberg

Kentucky Wildcats