Mark Stoops, Former Kentucky Football Coach, Joins Texas Longhorns LEXINGTON — Mark Stoops, the winningest head coach in Kentucky football history, is set to join the University of Texas as a special assistant to head coach Steve Sarkisian, according to a report from Horns247.com. The move marks his first coaching position with a team other than the Wildcats since November 2012, when he served as Florida State’s defensive coordinator. Stoops, who spent 13 seasons leading the Kentucky program, was fired in December 2025 after a 5-7 record in his final season. His departure followed a 41-0 loss to archrival Louisville at L&N Stadium on November 29, which became the largest margin of defeat in the series’ history. The Wildcats’ postseason streak of eight consecutive bowl appearances (2016–23) ended with a 4-8 record last season, including a 41-14 home loss to Louisville. Kentucky owes Stoops nearly $38 million, which will be paid in quarterly installments through April 2031. The separation agreement with the university ensures his future earnings with any team do not affect the remaining payments. The first installment of $3.9375 million was due within 15 days of his firing, by December 16. The final payment, totaling $6.75 million annually, is scheduled for April 1, 2031. Athletics director Mitch Barnhart acknowledged Stoops’ impact during a press conference following the announcement of his successor, Will Stein. “Mark Stoops gave us 13 incredible years of his life,” Barnhart said. “We always wanna focus on the end. ... In the game of sports, you don’t get a lot of happy endings where you get to walk off into the sunset and get to call it the way you want to call it.#university_of_texas #mark_stoops #steve_sarkisian #kentucky_football #mitch_barnhart
