Kentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.
Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.
But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.
After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.
Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
ESPNNov 30, 2025, 10:09 PM ETKentucky is expected to fire football coach Mark Stoops, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, with the process set to formally play out Monday.Stoops just completed his 13th season at Kentucky with a 5-7 record after going 4-8 in 2024.Stoops, 58, went 72-80 overall at Kentucky (82-80 if including the 10-win 2021 season that was later vacated). He brought consistency to Kentucky, making bowl games every season from 2016 to 2023 and twice finishing in the AP top 20.But Kentucky, which has had very few bright spots the past two seasons, moved on despite Stoops being signed through June 2031 and earning $9 million this year.Stoops would be owed 75% of his remaining salary, which is approximately $37.7 million.After a season that ended Saturday with a 41-0 loss to in-state rival Louisville, Stoops said he wasn’t going anywhere.Asked after the game about the possibility of stepping down, Stoops told reporters, “Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk.”ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.