After 13 seasons in Lexington, Mark Stoops’ run in the SEC has come to an end, following a second consecutive losing season. According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the process is expected to officially unfold on Monday.
The numbers don’t lie—only a handful of Kentucky head coaches, besides Paul Bear Bryant, have matched Stoops’ accomplishments. Under his leadership, the Wildcats secured two of their four 10-win seasons, posting a 72-80 mark overall (82-80 if you include the vacated 2021 season).
In his first season, he took over from former coach Joker Phillips and focused on rebuilding, but soon managed to turn the program around, bringing much-needed stability to the team. Stoops will be remembered as the winningest head coach in Kentucky’s history.
There are plenty of great memories of the Youngstown native, but now it’s time to move forward and find a coach who can build on the foundation that’s been laid.
Things have a way of catching up with you, and that’s what happened with Stoops. Fans grew impatient, and support dwindled after back-to-back losing seasons and missing bowl games two years in a row.
Mark Stoops Reportedly Expected to Be Fired by Kentucky, Contract Buyout Info
Before things went off track, Stoops led Kentucky to bowl appearances every year from 2016 to 2023, twice finishing in the AP top 20. As time went on, expectations grew with the rise of NIL and the transfer portal, but adapting to these changes seemed to stall the program. Ultimately, this led to him losing his job, and back-to-back losses to rival Louisville Cardinals didn’t help.
For many Kentucky fans who were already on the fence about this season, the breaking point came after a rough start at 2-5. The Wildcats managed to string together three straight wins, but the lopsided losses to the Vanderbilt Commodores and Louisville proved to be too much to overcome.
Earlier on Sunday, fans watched as former Kentucky alum and ex-Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall accepted the head coaching job for the Florida Gators. The move didn’t sit well with many, as they had hoped he’d return as a prodigal son to lead the Wildcats instead.
With Sumrall out, Kentucky could turn to Louisville native Will Stein, the Oregon Ducks’ offensive coordinator, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville and has strong ties to the state. In 2023, the Ducks ranked No. 2 in the FBS in both scoring and total offense, and last season they were among the nation’s top 25. Looking ahead to 2025, they’re once again leading the nation in offense.
Another name to keep an eye on is Brian Hartline, the offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who leads one of the nation’s top offenses. He’s also the primary recruiter responsible for bringing in seven five-star wide receivers, according to 247Sports. His younger brother, Mike Hartline, a former Kentucky quarterback, is currently an assistant coach at Kentucky, potentially providing a valuable connection for the job.
Another coach to keep an eye on is Dan Mullen, head coach of the UNLV Rebels, who brings SEC experience from his time with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Florida. He’s enjoyed plenty of success, including coaching a quarterback by the name of Dak Prescott—yes, that’s right, the current star of the Dallas Cowboys.
More names will likely be added, but based on the current list, top targets could include Bob Chesney from the James Madison Dukes. He is a Curt Cignetti disciple who now has Indiana competing for the Big Ten championship and the College Football Playoff.
As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever, and that’s true in coaching too. Sometimes you hit a stretch where time slips away, things shift, and changes have to be made—it’s more of a business decision than anything. For Kentucky, it was time for a change.
Mark Stoops has plenty of memories here, with one of the greatest being watching players develop and seeing guys he coached make it to the NFL draft. Gaining recognition along the way—memories that won’t be forgotten. He’s created a blueprint at Kentucky that the next coach can build on and make even better.
Thanks for the memories, Coach Stoops. Much appreciated.
For more coverage of Jon, Click here. Auburn And Kentucky: A Critical Match For Struggling Coaches
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