Mark Stoops reflects on impact of growing up in coaching family

Coaching is in Mark Stoops’ blood. His father, Ron Stoops, was his assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Cardinal Mooney High School. Mike and Bob, Mark’s older brothers, both served as head coaches at Power Five programs.

For Mark Stoops, there was never another option. The Kentucky head coach is grateful for his heritage.

“I think all the way back to my father,” Stoops told Paul Finebaum during an appearance on the SEC Network. “He was a high school coach and it keeps things in perspective, too, because he passed away coaching a game.

“All of us try to keep that in perspective. But, it’s a different beast when you’re sitting here, coaching in the SEC. It’s a different challenge each and every week.”

This weekend, Kentucky faces its most imposing challenge yet this season. On Saturday, the Wildcats will square off against the Florida Gators, who march into Lexington with three-straight wins, including an upset over No. 11 Tennessee.

Stoops intends to halt the Gators’ momentum. He’s had success at the feat in the past. In 2018, the 56-year-old head coach broke Kentucky’s 31-year win drought against Florida. Since then, UK is 2-2 against UF, winning the last two meetings.

Mark Stoops keeps a historical perspective

Although the annual battle is a massive one, Stoops claims history has taught him there are more important things.

“You’re just trying to get better every day and you hear so many coaches but when it’s authentic and when it’s true, you just you know,” Stoops said. “It’s just like Florida. I wasn’t worried about beating them, I had to build a program. We had to become a better team before we started worrying about beating this team or that team.”

Like his father and brothers before him, Stoops has driven his program to new heights. Last year, Kentucky reached its seventh straight bowl game, the most in school history. Stoops is Kentucky football’s all-time most-winningest coach.

Stoops is simply thankful for the opportunity.

“I never dreamed of being here as the head coach at Kentucky,” Stoops said. “I just love the game and want to be a part of it. That’s how I grew up. My dad doing that and always being around the school… I think it was always in the cards for me to coach at some level.”

Kentucky will need Stoops’ coaching to be at its peak on Saturday. The Wildcats and Gators will collide at noon ET on Kroger Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.