Following an embarrassing 41-0 defeat to the rival Louisville Cardinals, the Kentucky Wildcats dismissed long-time head coach Mark Stoops on Sunday.
Stoops has led Kentucky since 2013, and following several difficult years, he consistently guided the Wildcats to bowl games while achieving 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. However, Saturday’s loss to their rival dropped Kentucky to 5-7, marking their second straight losing season after going 4-8 in 2024. Stoops’ record is now 72-80 overall and 25-68 in conference play.
Who Could Replace Mark Stoops?
Kentucky has reportedly negotiated the timeline for paying Stoops’ buyout. By contract, Stoops is owed 75% of his remaining salary, to be paid within 60 days. This amount is reportedly between $37 and $38 million, representing a significant financial commitment that suggests the Wildcats likely have a plan in place.
Coaching candidates include Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, a Kentucky native who played at Louisville. Other candidates drawing attention are Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and current UNLV coach Dan Mullen.
Former Oregon, UCLA, 49ers, and Eagles coach Chip Kelly is another intriguing possibility. There have been rumors Kelly could be plotting a return to the college game. Kelly is well-known for his innovative college offenses and has had success at both levels. Some view Kelly as a strong hire, while others remain skeptical. Zach Gelb, host of the Zach Gelb Show, opposes considering Kelly for the Kentucky position. “Kentucky shouldn’t do this,” Gelb said. “The game has passed Chip Kelly by.”
Kentucky shouldn’t do this. The game has passed Chip Kelly by. https://t.co/mwl6OvKHmh
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) December 1, 2025
Gelb’s argument holds weight. Kelly’s Raiders have struggled this year, but the team has less talent and is in its first season under Pete Carroll. Kelly surprisingly left UCLA after 2023 to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. He helped the Buckeyes win a national title before joining the Raiders.
Kelly began his coaching career as an assistant at New Hampshire before moving to Oregon as offensive coordinator in 2007. He was later promoted to head coach, then became Eagles’ head coach in 2013 and coached the 49ers for one season in 2016, before returning to college with UCLA in 2018. He finished 35-34 at UCLA and holds an NFL record of 28-35 (26-21 with the Eagles, 2-14 with the 49ers).
It remains to be seen if Kelly is a real candidate or if Kentucky will target a coordinator like Stein or Hartline. Stoops is the most productive coach in school history, so despite the issues late in his tenure, replacing him is going to be no easy task.
