Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The University of Kentucky fired football coach Mark Stoops, ending his 13-year tenure, Wildcats athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced Monday.
Stoops' Wildcats went 5-7 in 2025, failing to secure bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season. He went 72-80 over his 13 years with the Wildcats, including a run of four-consecutive bowl victories.
"I have informed coach Mark Stoops that we have decided to go in a new direction at head coach," Barnhart wrote in a statement. "I want to thank Mark for his dedication and leadership over the past 13 years, and as importantly, the friendship that is marked by walking these journeys together.
"His tenure transformed the program and reset expectations. His time here was filled with memorable victories, a historic run of consecutive bowl appearances, and a commitment to developing young men both on and off the field."
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