Mark Stoops discusses contract extension, relationship with Kentucky administration

Mark Stoops was attached to plenty of rumors during the madness that has taken place in the college football coaching world over the last few weeks.

Instead, Stoops — who has meticulously revamped a Kentucky football program in the dominant SEC — decided to continue the trajectory since taking over in 2013.

Last week, the Kentucky brass made it clear they believe Stoops is the man to turn the Wildcats into a consistent contender amongst the elite programs in the nation by rewarding him with a massive contract extension.

The contract will run through June 2028 and continues guaranteed extensions for any season with seven wins (one-year extension) or 10 wins (two-year extension).  The agreement takes into account the Wildcats’ current 9-3 campaign, which already had earned a one-year extension through June 2027, regardless of the outcome of UK’s upcoming bowl game.

In his official press conference ahead of the Citrus Bowl vs. Iowa on New Years Day, the Kentucky frontman was asked about his decision to stay and his feelings toward the school and Wildcats’ administration.

“It means everything to me,” Mark Stoops said specifically about what the university means to him.

“It’s where I have been for the last nine years. It’s been a really good marriage between the University of Kentucky and myself. There’s ups and there’s downs, but there’s always that way. And I feel very proud to be there for nine years and to be part of that and continue to build that program.”

Mark Stoops’ first season at Kentucky was 2013.  He inherited a team that had gone 2-10 the season prior to his arrival, Stoops methodically built the program by equaling or surpassing the previous year’s record for six consecutive seasons.

Though Kentucky picked up some key wins over formidable SEC opponents early in the year, the Wildcats sputtered against their toughest tests, falling to Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi State, leaving plenty of fans questioning whether Stoops and company could compete with the best in their conference.

But Mark Stoops and the Wildcats turned the tide, capping their three-game win streak to close out the regular season with a dominating performance over Louisville.

When asked about the rivalry victory, the Kentucky frontman made an interesting point. Of course, he celebrated the win for his team, but in an era where recruiting is more competitive than ever, a 52-21 drubbing over the biggest in-state competition can have a major impact on players weighing their options.

“To see the joy in our players’ faces as we wrapped up that last game on the road against our rival, it gives you a lot of momentum heading into the recruiting season,” Stoops added.

It will be interesting to see if Mark Stoops can make the next leap. Kentucky is now good, but the administration is betting on him to be great in a conference filled with the top talent and best coaches.