Mark Stoops evaluates whether Kentucky is ready to compete in new era

Now the longest-tenured head coach in the SEC, Mark Stoops built up the Kentucky Wildcats program and had more success there than almost any other coach has managed. Now, as college athletics have shifted into a new era, the program has struggled with consistency on the field and Stoops is looking to fix that going into 2025.

Stoops recently made an appearance on Kentucky Sports Radio. There, he evaluated the program and shared why he believes Kentucky is ready to compete in this new era.

“Absolutely,” Mark Stoops said. “I think the last three seasons have been absolutely, unequivocally, the most challenging. You know, at this point, come July one, we’re supposed to have some guardrails around this thing. True authentic name, image, and likeness. If a young man can earn money, you know with his name, image, and likeness by all means he should be able to do that and go do that. The era of just truly donors pouring $20, $30 million into rosters and just paying for play, that’s been the last three years. That’s gone.”

Mark Stoops is referencing the House settlement, which should lead to revenue sharing in college athletics. On top of that, it should come with more concrete rules to work within for coaches like Stoops.

“Okay, so again, this has to happen. Now the judge has to rule on it in April. Yeah, you know that has to happen,” Stoops said. “And you know, we have to actually get this third party entity that can you know, have some teeth and monitor you know, whether this is a true, authentic NIL deal or not. Otherwise, it’s just who’s going to pour the most money into it.”

Different schools are going to choose to use their money differently. On top of that, some schools will simply have more money than others. So, while there may be rules, there are still differences from one school to the next. Still, even with that, Stoops believes that Kentucky can be competitive.

“One hundred percent. You know we went to battle this year. I do love the team that I put together. You know, we will see. We went through one spring practice. I love, and I’m not just saying this is not lip service,” Stoops said.

“I love the way they have attacked the off-season, you know, coming in and attacking the weight room, having the accountability, having the discipline, having the work ethic, you know, attacking the day. Truly, you know what I mean, watching all their weights, making sure everything’s you know, buttoned up, so to speak. You know, I feel like it’s been a great winner. Guys have attacked it. We went into our fourth quarter drills, which we, you know, basically challenge them physically and mentally and do some drills with them early in the morning. They did that. You know, they attack that. You know, we started spring ball. We’re off to the right start.”

Kentucky is coming off a 4-8 season. It was their first losing season since 2015 after going to bowl games for eight straight seasons. Now, there is some clear frustration from fans that Stoops is completely aware of going into 2025.

“I hear you. You know, I agree with you. You know, there’s there’s no defense on some of the things you know,” Stoops said. “And you know specifically or broad strokes, however, you want to say it. Definitely, some things needed to be readdressed. And I think, you know, we are off to the right start. I think we attacked this portal. I think if you go back if you look at it in a segment, we all hope as coaches, the most challenging time in our history has been the last three years. We hope we can move forward and attack it. And yeah, we have the rev share, you know, if that if that’s then we’ll be on equal playing field with everybody if it works that way.”

Mark Stoops insists Kentucky is ready for new era of college athletics

Beyond anything, Mark Stoops wanted to make it clear that he believes Kentucky is ready for this new era of college athletics. He’s also heard the criticism and wants fans to know how hard he’s working to turn things around.

“I would say Number one, I hear them and I accept,” Stoops said. “You know, the criticisms 100 percent. I’m not, you know, so hardheaded where that I’m not going to try to embrace any challenge, any obstacle to get better. You know, you could take this or leave it, Matt, and you know I’ve never been you know, as motivated as I am right now. Now, if you know anything about me, I do not like an ass kicking and we didn’t play to our best last year. I could guarantee you since that season was over when we lost on Saturday against Louisville, our butts were in that office on Sunday and have not stopped since.”

To go along with a losing season, Kentucky also lost to Louisville in 2024. That was their first loss to the Cardinals since 2017 and now he’s working to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Part of that is building the roster they have at Kentucky. Now, it’s time to help develop those players.

“We’re going to attack this thing. We have to put the pieces together. We have to strategically, you know, get better and put them in a position to be successful. But it came with building a roster. That was the first thing I had to do. We’ve done that. Then it comes with absolutely demanding excellence from them and in leaning on them 24/7 in a way, you know what I mean, in a very positive manner,” Stoops said.

“But you know, in keeping them accountable and making sure you know, they have the leadership qualities that it takes to be successful, to stay united through you know, challenges, because there’s going to be obstacles. When you play in our league, you’re going to hit adversity and how do you handle that? And do you have the roster, do you have the depth, do you have you know, the preparation that it takes? We’re leaving no stone unturned. We’re working our tail off. I love this place. I’ve been here 12 years going on 13, and I promise you — I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never you know, I’m emotional right now talking about because my ass wants to get back to the office to work and make this team better.”

Spring practice is finally underway at Kentucky. There will be another Transfer Portal window. However, for the most part, the roster is set. Mark Stoops knows that he needs to win in 2025 with this group of players.

“That’s that’s what I could guarantee you,” Stoops said. “And I could guarantee you that they’re gonna play with the same level of competitiveness, that we always have the same chip on our shoulder, the same discipline. We’re not gonna be perfect, but we’re gonna play hard, and you know we’re gonna do things right.”