Kentucky Football Moves On from Mark Stoops After 13 Years
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Kentucky has made a significant decision to part ways with Mark Stoops after 13 seasons, as reported by CBS Sports. Stoops, the all-time wins leader for the Wildcats, leaves the program following a disappointing 4-8 season and back-to-back years with losing records.
His tenure included highs such as reaching eight consecutive bowl games starting in 2016 and achieving the program's first 10-win season since 1977 in 2018 and again in 2021. However, the last two years have seen a decline, with a combined record of 9-15 and an offense that ranked 114th nationally this year in yards per game.
After a promising midseason run that featured victories over Auburn and Florida, the Wildcats faltered down the stretch, culminating in demoralizing losses to Vanderbilt and Louisville, which sealed Stoops' fate.
His final record stands at 82 wins and 80 losses, with a Southeastern Conference record of 38-68, indicating a troubling trend for the program. Stoops was under contract that included a substantial $38 million buyout, making his dismissal one of the costliest in college football history, as noted by CBS Sports.
This decision reflects Kentucky's aspirations to reshape its football program at a time when other SEC schools are making coaching changes, putting pressure on the Wildcats to act decisively. The athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, will now lead the search for a new head coach, a process that hasn't been undertaken since Stoops' hiring in 2012.
On3 emphasizes that this search comes at a crucial time, with the coaching market already crowded. Among the top candidates being considered are Neal Brown, former head coach at West Virginia, and Bob Chesney, head coach at James Madison, both of whom have strong offensive backgrounds that Kentucky may target to enhance their offensive capabilities.
Other names include Sonny Dykes from TCU, P.J. Fleck of Minnesota, and Dan Mullen, the current head coach at UNLV. The athletic department is keen on finding a leader who can revitalize the program and improve recruiting efforts, particularly after Stoops struggled to keep pace in the SEC.
The Wildcats are at a pivotal crossroads, as they must navigate this coaching change while maintaining momentum in recruiting and rebuilding a competitive roster for the future. With the recent developments, the future of Kentucky football is uncertain, but the program is motivated to find a new direction that aligns with its ambitions in the SEC landscape.