Mark Stoops reveals why Kentucky extension was alluring for him

Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops was mentioned in many rumors during the chaotic coaching carousel across college football at the end of the regular season. Ultimately, Stoops decided to stay at Kentucky, agreeing to a contract extension. His new deal will run through June of 2028, and guarantees an extension for years with seven wins (one year extension) or ten wins (two year extension).

Part of the extension for Stoops is an increased staff salary pool for the rest of Kentucky’s staff. Stoops said that was the most important part of his new deal.

“Yeah, it was the most important,” Stoops said of his extension including a higher Kentucky staff salary pool. “We all know I’m paid too much. So for the staff and for the support staff — everybody talks about specifically recruiting budget. It’s not recruiting budget. There’s a lot to it. There’s guys over here with me, Chase Heuke over here, and I could point out Chase. I can’t even tell you the amount of hours that he works and what he does and what he puts into it. So getting some support and some building — continuing to build our organization, that’s all.”

Stoops’ extension comes after Kentucky went 9-3 this season

The Wildcats began the season very strong, winning each of their first six games. Kentucky then lost three in a row, but won the final three games of the season to finish 9-3. Next up is a matchup with Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Kentucky’s strong season played a part in Stoops’ extension, but he knew that getting a deal done was important to compete in the SEC.

“It’s important,” Stoops added of getting his extension done. “So we had that conversation during the bye week, so everybody thought it was because maybe people were coming at us in different ways. It really wasn’t about that. It was mentioned and I just simply had a conversation about what the expectations are, and if we’re truly going to go compete for the east, if we truly want to go win SEC championships, then are we truly going to continue to grow this program. It’s as simple as that, and we all have a big commitment to do that.

“Once we agreed on those things and the things you’re talking about, building out the program, building out the support, then it was a done deal. It was over with then. That’s why you saw the articles of when I’m talking with recruits, talking with recruits a parents and talking with Mitch, it was done.”

Stoops has been at Kentucky since the 2013 season. He took over a Wildcats team that went 2-10 the year before. It has taken time, but Stoops has done a great job at turning the program around. In doing so, Stoops has built a great relationship and trust with those above him, which aided him in extension talks.

“One thing about working with somebody for nine years, going on ten, is that Dr. Capilouto, Mitch and myself, I trust them,” Stoops said. “So when we have a conversation, we can have a handshake agreement. Now, agents don’t like that, but that’s — but I know people I can trust; know what I mean?

“Jimmy is a Big Dog, but he still works for me; know what I mean? So when people give me a handshake agreement, I trust our president and our administration that it’ll get worked out, and so we moved on quickly.”