Mark Stoops is out at Kentucky.
The university is firing Stoops after 13 seasons leading the Wildcats football program, according to multiple reports.
The decision comes after Kentucky went 5-7 this season following a 4-8 2024 campaign and ends Stoops’ run — as he brought consistency to the Wildcats and led the team to a bowl game from 2016-23.
Kentucky will now owe Stoops a buyout worth roughly $38 million, and it is due to him within 60 days of his firing, On3 reported.
However, the outlet also reported that the two sides have agreed to spread the payments out over several years.
During his 13 seasons in Lexington, Stoops led the Wildcats to a 72-80 record overall, which included a pair of 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021, but things took a turn over the past two seasons.
Losses to Vanderbilt and in-state rival Louisville kept the Wildcats from reaching a bowl game this season.
Though just a day ago, Stoops sounded resolute in not walking away from the program voluntarily.
“Like, I’m going to walk away? Are you kidding me? … Zero percent chance I walk,” he told reporters on Saturday after losing to Louisville.
“I’m going to be here as far as I’m concerned,” Stoops added. “Now I can’t control what decision [is going] to be made. If you’re asking me, I said zero. Zero means zero.”
Stoops had been the longest-tenured coach in the SEC and had surpassed Bear Bryant for most wins for a Kentucky football coach in 2022 with a victory against Florida for Stoops’ 60th.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
