Kentucky announces firing of Mark Stoops as head football coach
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Kentucky has made it official. Mark Stoops is out as the head football coach of the Wildcats.
It was reported late Sunday evening that UK had decided to dismiss Stoops. On Monday morning, Kentucky athletics shared statements from athletic director Mitch Barnhart and president Eli Capilouto.
“I have informed Coach Mark Stoops that we have decided to go in a new direction at head coach,” Barnhart began his statement.
“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. 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.
“We move forward committed to build upon the strong foundation that has been laid and to pursue excellence relentlessly.
“We have begun a national search to identify the next leader of Kentucky Football, someone with proven coaching results and a vision for success for Kentucky.
“I am deeply grateful for the great support we get from Big Blue Nation. Their passion and loyalty continue to make Kroger Field one of the best environments in college football.
“Kentucky Football is positioned for success. We will continue to make the necessary investments to recruit an elite head coach, players, and support staff. That includes fully funding revenue-sharing and NIL opportunities, providing state-of-the-art facilities, and ensuring our student-athletes have every resource to thrive.
“Our mission is clear: to build a championship program for the people of Kentucky. We embrace this moment with optimism and determination, confident that the next chapter will see Kentucky Football reach new heights and achieve great success.”
Stoops is out after 13 seasons leading the Wildcats. He posted a 72-80 overall record and a 25-68 mark in conference play. From 2016-23, Kentucky went to 8 bowl games, a run that included 10-win seasons in 2018 and ’21. Over the past 2 seasons, however, UK posted losing records of 4-8 and 5-7. The Wildcats ended 2025 with a 41-0 loss to rival Louisville.
Announcing a change in @UKFootball leadership.
— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) December 1, 2025
https://t.co/0FmG9PSclH pic.twitter.com/FydNaQAcRM
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
