The University of Kentucky has decided to part ways with head football coach Mark Stoops after 13 seasons. This decision follows a disappointing 2024 season, marking Stoops' second consecutive losing campaign. Stoops, who is the all-time wins leader for the program, will receive a buyout of $38 million as stipulated in his contract, making this one of the most expensive coaching dismissals in college football history.
Reasons Behind the Decision
Kentucky's athletic department has been heavily focused on its basketball program, which made this decision particularly significant given the timing of the coaching carousel. Stoops faced mounting pressure after his team suffered lopsided losses to Vanderbilt and Louisville, leading to a loss of goodwill from fans and stakeholders.
The Wildcats ended their season with a 41-0 loss to rival Louisville, a game that seemed to solidify the decision to fire Stoops. After the defeat, Stoops expressed his commitment to the program, stating, "I'm going to be here as far as I'm concerned. Now, I can't control what decisions that are made. But if you're asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero."
Recent Performance
This season, the Wildcats had a rocky start, going 2-5, but managed to rally with three consecutive wins, including victories over Auburn and Florida. However, the team's subsequent performances against key rivals showcased significant issues, ultimately contributing to a disappointing record of 4-8 for the season and 9-15 over the last two years. Stoops' overall record stands at 82-80 with a 38-68 conference record.
Stoops managed to lead the Wildcats to their first bowl game in four years and secured eight consecutive postseason appearances, including a 10-win season in 2018, the first since 1977. However, after two consecutive 7-6 seasons in 2022 and 2023, the program has struggled significantly.
Coaching Landscape
As other SEC teams like Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Ole Miss have already made coaching changes, Kentucky's late start on the coaching carousel could pose challenges in securing a suitable replacement. Notably, Florida recently hired former UK linebacker and Stoops' defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall, a candidate who had been highly regarded by many Kentucky fans.
When Stoops was hired, he was coming off a position as the defensive coordinator at Florida State and had never been a head coach. He leaves Kentucky as the longest-tenured coach in program history, marking the end of an era for Wildcats football.