Mark Stoops, Kentucky Part Ways After Tumultuous Stretch
After more than a decade at the helm, the Mark Stoops era at Kentucky is coming to an end. Multiple reports indicate that Stoops and the university have agreed to part ways, with an official announcement expected as early as Monday.
This move doesn’t come out of nowhere-it’s the culmination of a difficult stretch for a program that once looked like it had turned a corner under Stoops. But recent seasons have painted a different picture. Kentucky is coming off back-to-back losing campaigns, including a 4-8 finish this year that ended on a particularly sour note.
The Wildcats closed the season with a brutal three-week stretch, capped by a 41-0 shutout loss to in-state rival Louisville. That loss stung more than usual-not just because it was a rivalry game, but because Kentucky entered as slight favorites.
Louisville, missing several key starters due to injury, still managed to dominate from start to finish. That followed a 45-17 drubbing at the hands of Vanderbilt, a game in which Kentucky trailed 45-3 in the fourth quarter.
For a program that had built its identity on toughness and defensive grit, those numbers are hard to ignore.
And the struggles aren’t limited to just this season. Over the last four years, Kentucky has gone 23-27-a record that already had fans and boosters questioning the program's trajectory.
Add in the NCAA ruling that vacated 10 wins from the 2021 season due to players being paid for work not performed at the university hospital, and the official five-year mark sits at 23-30. That’s a far cry from the momentum Stoops built earlier in his tenure.
The financial side of this move is still being sorted out. Stoops’ contract reportedly includes a $38 million buyout if terminated by the university, payable within 60 days.
But since this is being described as a mutual parting of ways, the final payout and its structure could look different. That’s a key detail to watch in the coming days.
Stoops leaves behind a complicated legacy in Lexington. He transformed Kentucky from an SEC afterthought into a program that could punch above its weight, delivering multiple bowl appearances and a 10-win season that energized the fanbase. But recent results, both on the field and off, have made it clear that the program had plateaued-and perhaps even regressed.
Now, Kentucky faces a pivotal moment. With conference realignment reshaping the college football landscape and the SEC growing more competitive by the year, the next hire will be critical. The Wildcats need someone who can not only stabilize the program but elevate it in an era where standing still means falling behind.
The official word from Kentucky isn’t expected until Monday at the earliest, but the writing is already on the wall. After 11 seasons, Mark Stoops and Kentucky are going their separate ways.