Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has been one of the more popular names listed to fill the opening at Florida State following the firing of Willie Taggart.

Stoops is a former Florida State defensive coordinator, who drew national attention last year with a 10-3 record. UK is 4-4 this season in a year that’s marked by a host of injuries at quarterback. UK plays host to Tennessee this week.

“It’s something you don’t want to address during the season,” Stoops said at his regular weekly press conference, according to The Cats Pause. “It’s better than the alternative. For me, it’s 100 percent focus on Tennessee. With success, you’re going to have some of that. Coach Cal, every year he’s going to the NBA, right? I’m not going to get into speculation. I’m going to talk about Kentucky and Tennessee.”

Stoops was Florida State’s defensive coordinator from 2010-2012.

Stoops is known as having one of the more coach-friendly contracts in the country. In Stoops’ current contract, he’s guaranteed a one-year extension each time he leads Kentucky to a seven-win season, and he’s guaranteed a two-year extension each time he leads the program to a 10-win season.

At FSU, Stoops had a successful run.

He inherited a unit a unit ranked 108th in the nation in total defense and turned it into one of the nation’s best. In the 2012 season, the Seminoles were second in the nation in total defense, allowing 254.1 yards per game, and sixth nationally in scoring defense at 14.7 points per game. FSU was third in the country in rushing defense and led the nation in pass defense. FSU led the ACC in seven defensive categories. Stoops also coached the defensive backs under head coach Jimbo Fisher.