Legacy. Defined by Google as “the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.” In relation to Kentucky Football, long-time head coach Mark Stoops has built his legacy at Kentucky. Over his 13 years in the Bluegrass, some of his achievements include SEC coach of the year in 2018, breaking the 31-year streak of Florida beating Kentucky, achieving two 10-win seasons (which many fans thought to be impossible when he stepped into the position, there were many Kentucky players drafted to the NFL under Mark Stoops, and he also is the all-time winningest head coach of Kentucky Football. Yet, while the highs have been very high, the lows have also been very low.
While he had faced some controversy before, the main issues occurred in 2023. As Stoops hit his tenth year with the Wildcats, news broke that another SEC school, Texas A&M, was set to hire Mark Stoops. While many Kentucky fans had seen him as a loyal coach, that would go out the window as it seemed a done deal that Stoops would step into a position at College Station. However, as the deal nearly reached an agreement, Stoops’ coordinators did not support him leaving as he thought they would, and Texas A&M’s booster pleaded for another look as Mark Stoops did not seem a “flashy” hire, which led to them hiring someone else. This meant Mark Stoops was staying at Kentucky, but he had lost the trust of fans and, more importantly, the boosters and board of trustees who had doubts about whether he was committed to maintaining Kentucky’s winning ways.
This would lead to the 2024 season, where Mark Stoops was able to get some decent transfers and was expected to be in the middle of the pack in the SEC. However, that season, Kentucky’s only conference win would be against #6 Ole Miss, which was an exciting win and defied pregame odds. Some other results that were also shocking that season were a blowout loss to South Carolina at home, in which they were projected to win by almost 10 points, losing at Florida to a team that was not very talented, and that Mark Stoops had created his identity in beating. Kentucky would also lose to a bad Auburn team at home and would cap off the season by getting smoked by Louisville 41-14 at home.
This season would increase the heat on Stoops’ hot seat and the questions of whether he can still bring a winning football program to Kentucky, and if he even cares anymore. This would lead to the 2025 season, which was more of the same. Early blowout losses to South Carolina and Georgia would be major blows to Stoops’ chances of winning over fans, yet there are two games to point to that would show his coaching ability, or lack thereof.
In the second game of the season, Kentucky would face 20th-ranked Ole Miss. Kentucky would end quarter one up 10-0, along with two interceptions by Kentucky native Ty Bryant, which made Kentucky fans begin to feel hope in Stoops and wonder if he can reorient the Wildcats. However, some questionable decisions contributed to Kentucky’s loss. At times, being too conservative in slowing down the offense, yet at some points taking too big risks like going for a fourth down and 9 in crunch time, when Kentucky had almost no momentum.
Another game that most fans will point to is the game against Texas. Texas was the preseason number one team in the nation, and despite earlier losses, in Kroger Field, Kentucky would triple Texas’s offensive yards and would hold Texas to 13 points in regulation. Yet, Kentucky still had to kick a field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime. On the first play, Kendrick Law would catch a ball and lead Kentucky to the 3-yard line, where if Kentucky scored, it would most likely seal the game. Yet, running the same play twice in a row and getting stuffed would gift the win to Texas.
This game left no one else to blame besides the coaching staff and Mark Stoops, and Kentucky fans did just that. However, it was not just Kentucky fans as the national media began to clown Kentucky in disbelief that it had managed to lose that game. It looked like the beginning of the end for Mark Stoops, as if he had stopped caring. But, he would prove them wrong.
In a disgusting, gritty game, Kentucky would finally get a win against Auburn with a score of 10-3. They would then follow this up by dismantling the Florida Gators 38-7, which would turn heads for Kentucky fans as they would continue the streak against an undefeated FCS opponent, Tennessee Tech. Mark Stoops had shown that he wasn’t ready to leave yet and was now one win away from achieving the postseason, which had seemed unbelievable.
The Wildcats would take a business trip to Nashville against #14 Vanderbilt. Yet, in the biggest game of the season so far, Kentucky looked stunned as they would lose in blowout fashion, 45-17. But that was against a team that was fighting to get into the playoffs; fans weren’t as worried, as they would play rivals Louisville next, who had just gotten blown out just as Kentucky did. Fans expected Mark Stoops to get his team ready to play, as this was the biggest game for Kentucky in years, and if they won, they could make a bowl game, and a loss would end their season.
Kentucky would walk onto the field seemingly unmotivated, having given up, as they would lose 41-0. Kentucky couldn’t even muster a field goal, which led fans to rain down heavy criticism that was finally felt by Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky’s Athletic Director. Seeing that the fans and now boosters were unhappy with Stoops, he had a decision to make. He could either keep Stoops, which would risk losing a lot of fans and financial supporters, or he could fire Stoops, which would cause an almost 40 million dollar buyout just for him to leave.
However, Barnhart would inform Stoops that he had decided to fire Stoops, who, in a move to regain some fans, would restructure his buyout to receive payment over a much longer period of years, thereby reducing the cost to Kentucky. As many fans were sad to see him go, most agreed it was time for a change. Yet, Kentucky had waited until 10:30 on a Sunday night, as most of the top coaching choices had already been taken by other schools. However, the two choices for Kentucky were Oregon’s Offensive Coordinator Will Stein and Ohio State’s Offensive Coordinator Brian Hartline, who both had Kentucky ties.
Either option would be great for the Wildcats, and Mitch Barnhart would ultimately choose Will Stein in an uncharacteristically quick decision. Will Stein was a quarterback for Louisville; however, he grew up a Kentucky fan. This hire is amazing for Kentucky, as he is known for his offense, which has been exciting for Oregon the last few years. He is also a “quarterback whisperer,” as he has gotten many quarterbacks drafted in the NFL, which is great for Kentucky’s hometown hero, Cutter Boley, who has already shown major improvements this year.
Will Stein is a major change for Kentucky, but a needed one. Stein started right by ensuring the commitment of some of Kentucky’s top prospects; however, he will need more as Kentucky has a shallow recruiting class. Stein has a lot of work to do as he will continue to call plays for Oregon as they enter the playoffs, which may set Kentucky behind, but overall, Kentucky has a young roster and, with the right development, can become great in the coming years. While the last years have been rough, Kentucky fans are in for a treat with Will Stein leading the way.
