The University of Kentucky has announced the firing of football coach Mark Stoops, ending his 13-year tenure with the Wildcats, athletic director Mitch Barnhart said Monday.
Stoops finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 record, marking the second consecutive year the team failed to reach bowl eligibility. Over his time at Kentucky, he compiled a 72-80 record, highlighted by a streak of four consecutive bowl victories.
Barnhart expressed gratitude for Stoops’ contributions, writing, “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 was hired in 2013 to replace former coach Joker Phillips, who went 13-24 over three seasons. Stoops’ early years were challenging, going 2-10 in his first season and 5-7 in both 2014 and 2015. The team then rebounded with back-to-back 7-6 campaigns in 2016 and 2017, beginning an eight-season streak of bowl eligibility.
The Wildcats achieved 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021 and captured the Belk Bowl, Gator Bowl, and two Citrus Bowl titles between 2018 and 2021. Stoops previously held the program record for most 10-win seasons, though the Wildcats later vacated their 2021 victories due to NCAA violations, adjusting his official record to 72-80.
Stoops leaves Kentucky as the program’s winningest coach with 72 official victories, surpassing Bear Bryant, who won 60 games and led the team to an 11-1 season in 1950.
Barnhart said the program is now focused on the future: “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. We move forward committed to building upon the strong foundation that has been laid and to pursue excellence relentlessly.”