Mark Stoops, Kentucky agree to contract extension that pays him $8.6 million annually

Kentucky might not have had the season it expected, but head coach Mark Stoops isn’t going anywhere anytime soon after UK extended his contract through the 2030 season. Stoops is set to make $8.6 million per season beginning in February 2023, per UK’s open records.

The salary increase will earn Stoops over $2 million more than his previous amendment had, increasing $2.3 million from the $6.3 million that he’s currently earning for the 2022 season.

Not only is the payment increase a massive step up to keep Stoops around in Lexington for as long as possible, but it also makes him the highest paid coach at the University of Kentucky, putting him ahead of UK men’s basketball head coach John Calipari’s $8.5 million salary.

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“We have been working on this for over a month and are glad to have it finalized,” UK AD Mitch Barnhart said in a press release. “Continuity has become more and more important in today’s landscape, and make no mistake about it, the job that Coach Stoops has done is well known and highly regarded throughout the college football world.

“This extension also recognizes what Coach Stoops has done over the past decade, with unprecedented achievements in the history of Kentucky football, and reinforces his commitment to UK as we strive for continued success in the future.”

Also in the contract, Stoops’ buyout has been raised from $1.75 million to $4.5 million. That will decrease by $500,000 with every year he stays at UK throughout the duration of the new contract. If UK can crack the College Football playoff, he’ll receive a $500,000 bonus, a $650,000 bonus if Kentucky makes the national title game and $800,000 if the they were win a national title.

He can also receive a $100,00 bonus for coach season Kentucky competes in a bowl, or $150,000 if the team reaches eight wins in a season.

Kentucky is coming off a 16-6 loss to No. 1 Georgia Saturday in Kroger Field. Looking ahead, they’ll battle in-state rival Louisville for the Governor’s Cup in its regular season finale.