Mike Stoops knows what his role is working for brother Mark Stoops

Mark Stoops says he will treat his brother, Mike, like any other coach. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Don’t look for Mike Stoops, Kentucky’s new inside linebackers coach, to get any special treatment from his brother, UK head coach Mark Stoops.

“I look at it as another coach,” Mark said Tuesday. “I have good relationships with the coaches. I treat him the same. He treats me the same.”

Mike says he understands his role/job.

“I know what my job is. You stay in your lane and you do your job the best you can. That’s what I plan on doing,” Mike said.

Mike is the older of the two brothers but Mark said that means nothing at their age.

“When you’re this old are you really a bigger brother or older brother?” Mark said. “I think that narrative needs to die because we’re both old.”

When Mike was head coach at Arizona for eight years, Mark was his defensive coordinator. Mike also worked for older brother Bob at Oklahoma and with him at Iowa and Kansas State. Mike turned down a chance to join the UK staff two years ago to stay at Alabama as an analyst.

“There’s still a brother connection, but we’ve grown so much since the time we were together at Arizona,” Mike said. “We’re two very different people than we were back then. I think we know what to expect, some of the good things, the bad things, what’s hard.”

Mike will be working under defensive coordinator Brad White, who turned down a chance in the offseason to go to LSU. Inside linebackers coach Jon Sumrall did leave to become head coach at Troy. Also, UK lost defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale to Michigan after the 2020 season.

Mark wanted an assistant coach with coordinator experience to aid White.

“You need some guys to step in, big-picture guys that can help Brad,” Mark said. “You need all hands on deck. It’s a tough job, so it’s good to bring that experience in.”