Mike Stoops, a seasoned defensive strategist in college football and brother of the legendary Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, is heading to Ole Miss for the 2026 season. This move comes after his tenure as the inside linebackers coach at Kentucky, where he worked under his brother Mark Stoops, who was recently let go as head coach.
Stoops is no stranger to the SEC, and his addition to the Ole Miss staff brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of defensive playbooks. Many thought a return to Oklahoma was in the cards for Mike, given his strong connections to the Sooners and his past collaboration with current OU head coach Brent Venables. The duo co-directed Oklahoma’s defense from 1999 to 2003, a period highlighted by a national championship win in 2000.
Mike's coaching journey has been extensive. After his initial stint at Oklahoma, he took the reins as head coach at Arizona for seven years.
He then returned to Oklahoma in 2012 to serve as associate head coach and defensive coordinator under Bob Stoops. When Venables left for Clemson, Mike continued his role under Lincoln Riley until 2018.
Following his departure from Oklahoma, Mike honed his skills further as a defensive analyst at Alabama and as a defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic, before joining Kentucky. His track record of working with top-tier programs speaks volumes about his expertise and adaptability.
While Venables has a penchant for bringing former colleagues into his fold, Mike Stoops has opted for a fresh challenge at Ole Miss. This sets the stage for an intriguing matchup when Ole Miss faces Oklahoma in Norman on November 14, as the two SEC rivals clash with Stoops now plotting against his former team.