Mark Stoops (26-35) has a nearly identical record to Rich Brooks through five seasons (25-35). Yet, fan criticism and expectations are the highest they have been. Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country).
When Mark Stoops was hired to be the head coach at the University of Kentucky, fans were the most excited they had ever been about the future of the Wildcat program. Fast-forward to today and Stoops is winning at the same rate the best UK coaches have, however, fans are demanding more.
A lot of things are factoring into fan frustration but if you step back and look at the numbers, his path has been identical to the one Rich Brooks took during his tenure. Through five seasons, Brooks owned a record of 25-35 (11-29 SEC), including two Music City Bowl victories over Clemson and Florida State.
To this point, Stoops has a record of 26-35 (12-28 SEC), nearly identical to the one that Brooks posted. Yet, fan frustration is at an all-time high, leaving some to question if 7-5 is the ceiling for Kentucky football.
Both Brooks and Stoops took over the program at two of its lowest points. Brooks inherited a program that was suffering from reduced scholarships due to probation. Meanwhile, Stoops took over a team that lacked talent and was fresh off a non-competitive 2-10 campaign.
Looking at the numbers, the situations are similar and both coaches were/are successful. However, a few things are factoring into fan frustration with Stoops.
When Stoops was announced as the head coach in December 2012, the University made a choice to go all in on football success, something that Brooks was denied multiple times during his tenure. Brooks never received the funding and facilities that exists today, leading some to say he did more with a lot less.
Adding more to fan frustration is the contract and pay that Stoops is receiving to be the head coach. Brooks was given $750,000 for his first contract and later signed extensions that put him around $1 million annually, not counting incentives in his contract. Compare that to the $3.75 million that Stoops is earning this year and it shows you that the University has made a commitment to more than just 7-5 seasons, but I’m not sure we have reached that point, yet.
The current $3.75 million the UK head coach earned this season will increase each season, topping out at $5 million in 2023. That would put him in the top ten for highest paid head coaches in college football. Under his current contract, a year is added to the deal when he reaches 7 wins in a season, that is why his contract has stretched to 2023.
Despite the coaching blunders and games that got away, Stoops should still be praised for the turnaround he has orchestrated in just five seasons. His progression has been 2-10, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6, and now 7-5, still with a Bowl game to play this season. Give the man credit, the product on the field at Kentucky is the best it has been in a long time but fans want more considering the time and investments that have been made.
During Brooks’ tenure, the Wildcats knocked off the best in the SEC. The wins vs. #1 LSU, #9 Louisville, and Georgia are moments that changed the program. Not to mention road wins at Auburn, Arkansas, and Georgia, places Kentucky hadn’t won in years.
Another thing about Brooks is he and his staff did an excellent job picking up players that top schools passed on. Those UK teams were built around two and three-star recruits that developed into impact players. That has to factor into fan disappointment towards this team because the talent level is the highest it has been.
Also, since Stoops has been in Lexington, the SEC East has completed its fall from grace. Florida (twice), Georgia, and Tennessee have all fired coaches while South Carolina, Vandy, and Missouri have replaced coaches that have either left or retired. That makes Stoops the longest tenured coach in the SEC East. That is proof that the division has struggled mightily in recent years.
When fans looked at the 2017 football schedule, 8-9 wins were achievable. The fanbase was ready to explode had the Wildcats started 4-0 with a win vs. Florida. However, coaching miscues led to a missed opportunity, one the fan base never fully recovered from this season. A blown double-digit lead to a 6-6 Ole Miss team was icing on the cake for most fans and the criticism reached its boiling point.
With back-to-back 7-5, (4-4 SEC) seasons, I am not ready to question the direction of the program when it comes to success on the field. My biggest concern, especially after Saturday’s lack of poise issues and various social media outbursts from players this season, is lack of discipline from the coaching staff. At some point, players should be held accountable for their actions, rather than being rewarded.
In my opinion, 7-5 is still okay five years in, considering where the program was in 2012. Now, I will say this, that has to change moving forward or the support from fans will be entirely gone.
The UK coach has the support, facilities, and everything he needs to build a winner in Lexington. He and his staff have done an excellent job using facilities and pitching the future to bring in highly talented players. However, one can only pitch the future for so long, before 7-5 seasons will no longer signify progression.
At some point and it needs to be sooner rather than later, the Wildcats have to take that next step. If Kentucky is still 7-5 in year seven and eight with the money being spent, then I will say the ceiling for Mark Stoops at Kentucky is 7-5. I’m just not ready to say that, but understand the fans that do.
Stoops also needs a win that he can put in his back pocket, one that shows progress being made. Yes, the win at Louisville in 2016 was big but he needs a win vs. a top-tier SEC opponent.
Regardless of the result of the Bowl game, Stoops is nowhere near the hot seat at Kentucky. Firing a UK coach for 7-5 seasons, which has traditionally been the best years, would be a bad move. Nobody worth noting would be interested in the UK coaching position if they moved on from a coach that was meeting traditional expectations. However, I will say this, Kentucky cannot pay a head coach 4-5 million dollars for 7-5 results.
Mark Stoops more than deserves continued support from Big Blue Nation. If we are still having this conversation at the end of next season, a year where UK could return 17 starters, then my opinion will change. Yes, opportunities were missed this season but let’s see if he and the staff learn from it moving forward.
Fans deserve a good product on the field because of the money they pay to attend games and the time they sacrifice. For both fans and Stoops’ sake, lets hope Saturday never happens again.
