Mark Stoops says he is staying at Kentucky after multiple reports this weekend linked him to the head-coaching vacancy at Texas A&M.
Stoops, who is in his 11th season at Kentucky, announced his decision on social media early Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after the Wildcats’ 38-31 upset victory over No. 10 Louisville.
I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days. It’s true I was contacted about a potential opportunity this weekend, but after celebrating a big win against our rivals with players I love like family, I knew in my heart I couldn’t…
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) November 26, 2023
Stoops said in his social media post that he was “contacted about a potential opportunity this weekend” without specifically mentioning Texas A&M. He told ESPN’s Chris Low on Sunday that he had talked with the Aggies, who have been conducting a coaching search since firing Jimbo Fisher two weeks ago.
Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4 SEC) played its final two games under interim head coach Elijah Robinson, who is widely considered to be a candidate for the full-time job. The Aggies lost Saturday’s regular-season finale to No. 14 LSU.
Kentucky (7-5, 3-5 SEC) is headed to a bowl game for a school-record eighth consecutive season under Stoops. The last time Kentucky enjoyed a stretch of at least eight straight winning seasons was from 1946 to 1956.
Stoops, 56, is the winningest coach in Kentucky football history with a career record of 73-64 and is currently under contract through the 2031 season.