Mark Stoops says the contract extension shows recruits he’s committed to Kentucky. (UK Athletics Photo)
Word leaked Sunday that Kentucky and coach Mark Stoops had agreed to a contract extension/pay raise through the 2030 season that makes him one of the nation’s highest paid coaches at almost $9 million per year.
He agreed to the contract the day before UK played — and lost to — Vanderbilt. The story leaked the day after UK lost 16-6 to No. 1 Georgia. That dropped UK to 6-5 going into Saturday’s game against Louisville after the Cats started this season 4-0.
Stoops talked about his contract extension at his weekly press conference Monday:
Q. The contract extension, why did you want to make that commitment in season now?
COACH STOOPS: Well, we made that commitment to each other a while ago. I kind of feel bad about the timing of it. I wasn’t very proud of some of the losses, certainly coming off the Vanderbilt game and all that.
But I told you, what, last January, that when Mitch (Barnhart) and I and Dr. (Eli) Capilouto make an agreement, we make an agreement. And I said that about Jimmy (Sexton) and lawyers and all that stuff, but we have worked together so long that we have a great commitment to each other and a trust and a belief in each other. The stability was important and early in the season there was a lot of noise. I just simply said, ‘I’m committed to this. I’m not going anywhere. I’m committed to this place’ — and vice versa.
And so it was agreed upon, when things were really good. But obviously I feel bad for Mitch and Dr. Capilouto in not doing my part, truthfully. After that game, believe me, I better just stop there. I felt very bad about that loss and some of the parts of the season.
Q. Based on what you just said, as it relates to the contract extension, were the years and the commitment that they show more important than the dollars themselves?
COACH STOOPS: Absolutely. It’s important. And I think the contract that I had also could roll over for a very long, long time. And we got to that point where it was like, okay, I think that piece of it, we know we could let go and move on from the automatic rollovers and things of that nature.
We never know — none of us can predict the future. So, it was a commitment. I was appreciative. It’s simply, as easy it was the last time, for me, it’s like, I know I’m committed here. If that proves to everybody, so people quit talking about things — I know we lost, so everybody’s start saying the other way (laughter). But I get it. So, take the good with the bad. I’ve been here a long time. But I’m committed to this place and have been. This is my home. This is the place that I’ve helped build to this point. We have built it to this point. Do we want more? Yes. I think we want to continue to grow. Dr. Capilouto expects more. Mitch expects more, and I do, and I want to continue to build, continue to have the continuity, and I want to improve.
There’s a lot of people that would like to have the stability that we have had. And there’s a lot of people that would, much like us, be driven to compete at higher levels as well.
Q. There were rumors that some big-time programs were coming after you pretty hard. How seriously did you listen to any of their pitches?
COACH STOOPS: I don’t talk about any of that because I don’t like to disrespect any school or anybody or anything. I think with the work that we’ve done here, I think it goes without — I don’t need to say anything. There’s a lot of people over the years that have inquired. I really don’t push that. I’m in season. I’m committed to my players. I’m committed to this place and I’ve never strayed five minutes from that.
Q. You have recruits in play, you have 85 free agents (on the team now who could enter the transfer portal), like you said, this big rivalry game. Where does the new contract fit into that in terms of stability going down the road?
COACH STOOPS: I think that definitely plays a role. I get asked all the time and I don’t ask things to get written. I don’t put anything out there. You know what I mean?
So, I constantly have to talk about that with recruits. Stability, as I say to them, show me any other programs that have been more stable. I’m committed to this place. I’ve shown it time and time again, and certainly I appreciate the commitment to myself and our staff.
So, I think it’s very important, and it helps, and I don’t like answering that to recruits.
Q. Have you had to answer it a lot?
One Response
I would be pretty happy to stay around too with a $8.6 mil contract and auto 8 year extension. More power to him if UK is willing to pay that, but I don’t see it. Not with the 2023 recruiting class he has on paper now, and the season his football team is having after so much talk early on. UK was in no real serious danger, IMO, of losing Stoops this year, especially after the Ole Miss loss, and USC, and Vandy losses at home, and the UT beat down he took in Knoxville, with the Louisville game looming and a potential 6-6 finish. I also think some of his coaching hires are not producing in this league. That is on him. I also think if this staff don’t pick it up soon UK is in for a tough "roe to hoe" in 2023. Stoops has elevated this UK program, no doubt, but he was already getting paid well with years left on his former contract.
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