Stoops departs after 13 years at Kentucky, leaving behind a job that could attract some interesting candidates.
A historic day on the SEC coaching carousel ended with the expected firing of the conference’s longest-tenured football coach.
Mark Stoops is on his way out at Kentucky after 13 seasons, which included two of the school’s four 10-win campaigns, in 2018 and 2021. Stoops brought historic stability to the bluegrass, guiding the Wildcats to eight consecutive bowl games and two top-25 finishes. But after consecutive losing seasons and Saturday’s 41-0 loss to rival Louisville, Kentucky is expected to fire him Monday. Stoops finishes his tenure at 72-80.
Kentucky has typically been regarded as being a program content with bowl appearances and the occasional breakthrough. The SEC is deeper than ever, but this season featured Vanderbilt winning 10 games and Ole Miss punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff for the first time at 11-1. If Kentucky wants to become the next surprise team, it must get the next hire right and then invest in that person.
Stability has been the key trait in Lexington with Stoops, athletic director Mitch Barnhart and university president Eli Capilouto each in their roles for more than a decade. Barnhart, who hired Stoops, likely will be making the last significant hire of his tenure as AD.
Kentucky has several intriguing coordinator options, including Oregon’s Will Stein, who is from the state and grew up attending Kentucky games. Here’s a look at the candidates for what should be a sped-up search, as well as key players to retain and recruits to keep on board. — Adam Rittenberg
Candidates | Transfers | Recruits
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein: The 36-year-old Louisville native would likely be the favorite to land the Kentucky job. Although Stein played quarterback for the in-state rival Cardinals, his parents went to Kentucky and Will grew up attending Wildcats games. He has become one of the nation’s most respected playcallers and offensive architects after working with several notable quarterbacks at Oregon, and he would be able to repair Kentucky’s primary problem the past few seasons under Mark Stoops.
