For more than a decade, Mark Stoops was Kentucky football. His name became nearly inseparable from the program, guiding the Wildcats through highs, lows, and everything in between. But after 13 seasons, that era appears to be coming to an end.
According to reports, Kentucky is expected to part ways with Stoops, with the school set to owe him a staggering $37 million in a contract buyout. That’s a heavy price tag, but it underscores just how significant this decision is-not just financially, but symbolically. Stoops wasn’t just another coach; he was the winningest coach in program history, finishing with an 82-80 record over his tenure in Lexington.
That record tells a story of resilience. Stoops took over a struggling program and methodically built it into a consistent bowl contender.
From 2016 to 2023, Kentucky reached eight straight bowl games-a remarkable stretch for a team that had long lived in the shadow of SEC powerhouses. He brought stability, toughness, and a clear identity to a program that needed all three.
But college football is a results-driven business, and recent seasons haven’t gone Kentucky’s way. After a disappointing 4-8 finish in 2024, the Wildcats followed it up with a 5-7 campaign in 2025-missing out on bowl eligibility in back-to-back years.
The 41-0 blowout loss to rival Louisville to end the season didn’t help matters either. That one stung.
Stoops, for his part, didn’t sound like a man ready to leave. After the Louisville game, he addressed questions about his future head-on.
“Come on. Yeah I don't mean to be disrespectful to you,” he said.
“Like, I'm going to walk away? Are you kidding me?
No. I mean zero means zero.
Zero percent chance I [would walk away]. I'm going to be here as far as I'm concerned.
Now I can't control what decisions are made. If you're asking me-I mean-zero means zero.
Zero percent chance I walk away.”
That quote says it all. Stoops didn’t plan on leaving. But in the end, the decision wasn’t his to make.
Now Kentucky enters the coaching carousel with plenty of company. The SEC is undergoing a serious shake-up.
LSU made a splash by hiring Lane Kiffin, ending a drawn-out saga. Florida is bringing in Jon Sumrall from Tulane, Auburn is turning to Alex Golesh from South Florida, and Arkansas is tabbing Ryan Silverman out of Memphis.
For Kentucky, the next hire is pivotal. Stoops raised the bar-eight straight bowl games, a culture of competitiveness, and a belief that Kentucky could punch above its weight in the SEC. Whoever steps in next inherits a program that’s not starting from scratch, but one that’s hungry to get back to winning football.
As for Stoops, his legacy in Lexington is secure. He didn’t just coach games-he changed the trajectory of the program. And while the final chapter didn’t go the way he or Kentucky hoped, the story he wrote over 13 seasons won’t be forgotten anytime soon.