Mike Stoops, a seasoned figure in college football, is making a move within the SEC. After a notable four-year run at Kentucky, Stoops is joining the Ole Miss football program. While the specifics of his role are yet to be unveiled, his wealth of experience is sure to be a valuable asset to the team.
Stoops, who recently served as the inside linebackers coach at Kentucky, has an impressive resume. An Iowa alum, he's had coaching stops at Kansas State, Oklahoma, Alabama, and FAU, and notably spent seven seasons as the head coach at Arizona. His journey through the ranks of college football has been marked by significant contributions and leadership roles.
His brother, Mark Stoops, brought him on board at Kentucky after the 2021 season to fill the shoes of Jon Sumrall as the inside linebackers coach. This was a reunion of sorts, as Mark had previously worked under Mike at Arizona from 2004 to 2009. Mike Stoops also had two notable stints as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, working under his brother Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley, before transitioning to Alabama as a defensive analyst and then to Florida Atlantic as the defensive coordinator in 2021.
At Alabama, he collaborated with Pete Golding, who is now the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. This reunion at Ole Miss could see Stoops in an analyst role, bringing his strategic insights and seasoned approach to the Rebels’ staff.
Joining Stoops at Ole Miss is former Kentucky wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington. While Kentucky and Ole Miss won't face off in 2026, fans can look forward to their clash in Oxford in 2027, followed by a return game in Lexington in 2029.
This offseason has seen several former Kentucky coaches take on new challenges:
- Bush Hamdan has moved to the Miami Dolphins as the quarterbacks coach.
- Brad White and Chris Collins have joined Florida, taking on roles as defensive coordinator and safeties coach, respectively.
- Eric Wolford is now with LSU, continuing his work with the offensive line.
- Derek Shay is at Texas A&M as the tight ends coach.
- Mike Hartline has transitioned to South Florida as the quarterbacks coach.
- Chase Heuke is now the director of recruiting at Louisville.
- Brad Lambert has taken on the defensive coordinator role at Marshall.
- Jay Boulware has moved to West Virginia to coach the running backs.
- Kevin Barbay has become the offensive coordinator at Tulsa.
- Dean Hood is working with safeties at Marshall.
- Nate Fuqua has joined Tulane as the co-defensive coordinator/bandits coach.
Each of these moves highlights the dynamic nature of coaching careers and the interconnected web of college football programs. As Mike Stoops settles into his new role, Ole Miss fans can anticipate the impact of his extensive expertise on their team’s performance.