Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops' Season Ends in Shocking Fashion; $37 Million Buyout Looms
In a stunning turn of events, the Kentucky Wildcats are expected to fire their 13-year head coach, Mark Stoops, on Monday. The news comes after the team was embarrassed by Louisville 41-0, bringing their season record to 5-7 and making them ineligible for the bowl game.
Stoops, who went 82-80 during his tenure at Kentucky, will likely face significant backlash from fans and alumni. Despite a strong winning percentage, the team struggled this season with a grueling schedule that included matchups against top-ranked teams like Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.
The Wildcats' loss to Vandy on November 22 was particularly devastating, with the Commodores blowing out the team 45-17. The final two-game stretch of the season saw Kentucky lose momentum, culminating in their humiliating defeat at the hands of Louisville.
Stoops signed a contract extension with the university in 2022, but it appears that his leadership and coaching decisions have been called into question. With a buyout totaling nearly $37 million still due to be paid out within two months, Stoops will likely face significant financial repercussions from his departure.
The news comes as part of a larger shift in the SEC coaching landscape, with other teams making changes in an effort to revitalize their programs. For now, however, Kentucky's future remains uncertain, and Stoops' tenure has come to an abrupt end.
In a stunning turn of events, the Kentucky Wildcats are expected to fire their 13-year head coach, Mark Stoops, on Monday. The news comes after the team was embarrassed by Louisville 41-0, bringing their season record to 5-7 and making them ineligible for the bowl game.
Stoops, who went 82-80 during his tenure at Kentucky, will likely face significant backlash from fans and alumni. Despite a strong winning percentage, the team struggled this season with a grueling schedule that included matchups against top-ranked teams like Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.
The Wildcats' loss to Vandy on November 22 was particularly devastating, with the Commodores blowing out the team 45-17. The final two-game stretch of the season saw Kentucky lose momentum, culminating in their humiliating defeat at the hands of Louisville.
Stoops signed a contract extension with the university in 2022, but it appears that his leadership and coaching decisions have been called into question. With a buyout totaling nearly $37 million still due to be paid out within two months, Stoops will likely face significant financial repercussions from his departure.
The news comes as part of a larger shift in the SEC coaching landscape, with other teams making changes in an effort to revitalize their programs. For now, however, Kentucky's future remains uncertain, and Stoops' tenure has come to an abrupt end.
omg what just happened to UK football? they went from having high hopes this season to getting destroyed by louisville 41-0 that's a huge blow 
stoops is gonna face so much heat from fans and alumni, i feel bad for the guy but at the same time he's gotta take some responsibility for the team's performance. 
a $37 million buyout tho? that's insane 
i wonder what other coaching changes we'll see in the SEC this offseason, it's gonna be interesting to see how Kentucky recovers from this mess 
. As for Mark Stoops, I feel bad for the guy – he's been at it for 13 years and has had some great seasons. But, at the same time, when you get embarrassed by Vandy 45-17, something's gotta change 
. And, $37 million? That's a lot of cash 
. Now, I'm curious to see what happens next in Lexington 
.
. I'm not surprised though, 5-7 record is a pretty clear indication that something went wrong. $37 million buyout? That's crazy talk 
️. Can't say I'm shedding any tears for the Wildcats, but at the same time, it's not like it's going to fix anything...
and now he gotta pay like $37 million or somethin' lol that's a lotta cash 