Kentucky Trapped in a Billion-Dollar Nightmare: Mark Stoops’ Contract So Costly, Firing Him Could Bankrupt the State.
Mark Stoops has been the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats football team since 2013, making him the longest-tenured coach in program history. Over the years, he has transformed Kentucky from an SEC afterthought into a respectable program, delivering consistent bowl appearances and even a few seasons with 10 wins. However, as expectations have risen, so have frustrations, and some fans are beginning to question whether Stoops is still the right man for the job.
The problem? Kentucky may not even have the option to fire him—at least not without a financial catastrophe.
A Massive Buyout Problem
Stoops signed a contract extension in 2022 that made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. His deal, which runs through 2031, includes a hefty buyout clause that would make firing him an incredibly expensive decision. As of 2024, reports suggest that firing Stoops without cause would require Kentucky to pay him nearly $40 million—an amount that would strain even the wealthiest athletic departments.
To put this into perspective, Stoops’ buyout is larger than what some entire college football programs operate on for multiple seasons. While powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State might be able to absorb such a hit, Kentucky does not have the same financial muscle in football. The university’s athletic department is heavily reliant on revenue from basketball, making it difficult to justify spending tens of millions just to part ways with a coach who has, at the very least, kept the Wildcats competitive.
Stoops’ Success and Struggles
There’s no denying that Stoops has done a remarkable job compared to his predecessors. Before he arrived, Kentucky was a perennial SEC bottom-feeder, rarely competing with the conference’s best teams. Under Stoops, Kentucky has won more than 70 games, regularly qualified for bowl games, and even upset teams like Florida and LSU.
But expectations have changed. With his salary ranking among the top 10 in college football, fans and boosters want more than just seven- or eight-win seasons. In 2023 and 2024, Kentucky struggled against top SEC teams, including brutal losses to Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. The offense has been inconsistent, and Stoops’ recruiting—while solid—has not reached the level necessary to truly compete for SEC titles.
The frustration boiled over in 2023 when Stoops, responding to criticism from fans, suggested that Kentucky needed to “pony up” more NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money to compete with the likes of Georgia. While he wasn’t wrong about the financial arms race in college football, the comment rubbed many fans the wrong way, especially as they watched the team underperform in key moments.
Could Kentucky Afford to Fire Stoops?
The short answer: not easily. Even if boosters were willing to cover Stoops’ massive buyout, Kentucky would still have to pay for a new coach, which could mean an additional $30 to $50 million commitment over several years. That kind of spending makes sense for an elite football school, but for Kentucky—a school where basketball is king—it’s a tough sell.
The only way Stoops would likely leave without a massive buyout payment is if he found another job. His name has been floated for past openings, including Florida State and Texas A&M, but so far, he has stayed put in Lexington.
The Future of Kentucky Football
Stoops’ job is safe for now, but the pressure is mounting. If Kentucky continues to struggle against top SEC competition, frustration will only grow. However, unless a wealthy booster steps in with an unprecedented financial commitment, the university appears stuck in a situation where firing Stoops could be financially crippling.
For better or worse, Mark Stoops isn’t just the head coach of Kentucky football—he might be the most expensive commitment the program has ever made.
