Kentucky is set to fire coach Mark Stoops on Monday, per multiple reports.
Stoops, 58, has spent the past 13 seasons at Kentucky and is the program’s winningest coach at 82-80. He guided the Wildcats to 10-win seasons and Citrus Bowl victories in both the 2018 and 2021 seasons.
But Kentucky went 4-8 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025, most recently taking a 41-0 drubbing at the hands of rival Louisville on Saturday.
Stoops was asked after that game if there was any possibility he would step down from his post.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful to you,” Stoops said. “I mean, like I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? No, zero means zero.”
Stoops didn’t budge when a follow-up question was tossed his way.
“Zero percent chance I walk away,” Stoops said. “I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned. Now, I can’t control what decisions that are made. If you’re asking me, I’ve said zero. Zero means zero. Zero percent chance I walk away.”
Stoops’ buyout is about $37.7 million, 75% of the salary remaining on his contract.
There is a team meeting scheduled for Monday to address the team’s coaching situation, according to multiple reports.
Kentucky is the fifth SEC team to fire its coach this year, and the move only comes after the other four – LSU, Arkansas, Auburn and Florida – already hired their replacements.
The Wildcats will be working in a thinner coaching market, with South Florida’s Alex Golesh, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield already in line to join Auburn, Florida and Arkansas, respectively. LSU hired Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss.
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