Mark Stoops celebrated another win over Louisville Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Less than 24 hours after Kentucky ended its regular season by routing Louisville came news that UK football fans did not want to hear. No, coach Mark Stoops did not leave for LSU or Florida. Speculation has included his name among the top candidates at both schools almost as soon as the jobs came open.
But with Lincoln Riley leaving Oklahoma to take the job at USC, speculation began immediately that Mark Stoops not only would be a candidate for that job but perhaps the best candidate.
Stoops’ brother Bob, the former head coach at Oklahoma, is going to coach the Sooners in the bowl game and that could pave the way for an easy transition to Mark Stoops as the permanent head coach.
Brandon Marcello, a national college football reporter for 247Sports, wrote Sunday that Oklahoma should act immediately to hire Mark Stoops before the national signing period opens Dec. 15. He wrote that Stoops was a “Bluegrass legend” but had little else to accomplish at a “basketball-first school buried in the SEC.”
He believes a coach to contend for championships at Oklahoma, which will be moving into the SEC, is too much for Mark Stoops to pass up and says it is “too simple of a decision” for Oklahoma.
Remember, Oklahoma is not going to win the Big 12 this year. It does have a history of winning national titles but the last one came in 2000. However, most would consider Oklahoma a step up for Stoops just like jobs at Florida and LSU would be.
“This man beats out Tennessee and Florida for top-tier talent. Kentucky’s 2022 recruiting class currently ranks No. 14 nationally, well above its weight class. Stoops is a problem-solver. He’s a hunter. He’s relentless,” Marcello wrote.
In terms of money, Marcello said hiring Stoops would be cheap for the Sooners.
“His buyout is only $1.75 million, an easy bill for the Sooners to pay for one of the SEC’s best coaches, and doubling a $5 million salary to entice him to leave Lexington is a no-brainer,” Marcello.
Hopefully, it is a “no-brainer” for Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart to do what it takes to keep Stoops. Upgrade the indoor facility. Give him a raise. Give his assistant coaches all raises. Increase the recruiting budget.
Stoops won 10 games in 2018. He could win 10 again this year. Recruiting is going great. Kentucky has mastered the transfer portal.
Show Stoops the love to keep him and surely Barnhart knows paying Stoops more to keep him is a much better way to spend money than gambling on a new coach.
9 Responses
If UK truly wants to be consistently successful in football, it will take a lot of money. Much more than they are paying now. You can’t be successful and not pay for it in college football.
Pony up or get off the horse!!!
It does not surprise me that Coach Stoops is at the top of a lot of coaching wish lists, but the real question is whether Coach Stoops is looking for new scenery.
I take him at his word that he will finish his work at Kentucky.
I agree that the administration needs to pony up to show Coach Stoops how much he is appreciated, and that includes a raise for Coach Stoops and his top-line assistants, as well as continuing facility upgrades.
Throughout my fandom, the UK administration chose to not invest in football, until Stoops’ arrival. I believe the administration remains committed to building a first-class football program, so I believe UK will do what is necessary to keep Coach Stoops and his staff happy in Lexington.
Agreed
In my opinion, Mitch is playing with fire. I can’t believe there hasn’t already been a press release from UK stating that something to keep the current coaching staff in place is in the works. I’ve been a faithful follower of UK athletics in general and football in particular since 1954, but if Mitch screws this up I’m done.
Just saw a picture of Stoops coming off the plane at Detroit to see a recruit and he’s making other stops at NJ and Pittsburgh that tells me he’s not going anywhere. I wish he would make a statement on his next radio show and just say not interesting going to LSU and Oklahoma to stop all the rumors.
He, Stoops, has already gone on record as saying he is not leaving UK. I take him at his word as well, but I also agree the UK brass better put this to bed quick by making sure he stays. Money talks, and his connection to OU is with blood ties, and OU apparently has plenty of cash to pass out. This could get interesting.
Stoops is not going anywhere
Amen! I imagine he right now is trying to cancel Clinkscale on the recruits in Michigan & New Jersey! Per Coach Stoops “ We are just getting started Bro”
Stoops still has work left to be done here. At Oklahoma, they would not be happy with a 5 year work in progress approach. They want to win now, and even moreso after entering the SEC. We are no longer in a fight with Vandy to see who will finish last in the division, but we are still a ways off from being a legitimate East contender. We may get there in another 2 to 4 years if the recruiting doesn’t dry up, but until then, I don’t see Stoops going anywhere.