LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky announced Monday it has dismissed head football coach Mark Stoops, bringing an end to his 13-year run with the program following a lopsided defeat to Louisville that capped a disappointing season.
The Wildcats fell 41-0 to their in-state rivals in Saturday’s Governor’s Cup matchup, finishing the 2024 campaign with a 4-8 record and missing bowl eligibility for the second straight year.
Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart acknowledged Stoops’ contributions to the program while announcing the change.
“I want to thank Mark for his dedication and leadership over the past 13 years, and as importantly, the friendship that is marked by walking these journeys together,” Barnhart stated. “His tenure transformed the program and reset expectations. His time here was filled with memorable victories, a historic run of consecutive bowl appearances, and a commitment to developing young men both on and off the field.”
Stoops departs as Kentucky’s all-time leader in coaching victories with a 67-80 overall record. He also holds program records for postseason success, having guided the Wildcats to eight straight bowl games with four victories during that stretch.
The coach arrived in Lexington in 2013 following his role coordinating Florida State’s defense. He took charge of a struggling program that had managed just two wins the previous season and gradually built it into an SEC competitor.
His most successful campaign came in 2018, when Kentucky finished 10-3 and earned him SEC Coach of the Year recognition—the program’s first double-digit win total in over four decades. The Wildcats matched that success in 2021 with another 10-win season, though the NCAA later nullified those results due to rules violations.
Among Stoops’ notable achievements were breaking long droughts against conference opponents, including victories over Tennessee and Florida after decades of losses to those programs.
However, recent struggles proved decisive. The Saturday shutout marked the first time either team scored zero points in the rivalry game in 20 years. The 41-point defeat also represented the series’ most lopsided result since Kentucky’s 56-10 victory in 2018, which began a five-game winning streak against the Cardinals that has now ended with two straight losses.
The university faces a substantial $37 million buyout obligation with Stoops’ departure.
Kentucky’s coaching search begins amid a busy period for SEC programs, with multiple conference schools also seeking new leadership. Will Stein, who currently coordinates Oregon’s offense and previously played quarterback at Louisville, has emerged as an early candidate for the position.
The program now faces the challenge of finding a successor who can build upon the progress made under Stoops while restoring the team to postseason play.
