Kentucky coach Mark Stoops decides to stay with Wildcats after emerging as Texas A&M’s top target

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With the college football regular season coming to a close, the Texas A&M coaching search is coming into focus. And as we all expected, it’s a rollercoaster finding the next Aggies football coach. Though it appeared on Saturday that Texas A&M was ready to move forward with its top target, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, with an announcement imminent, Stoops instead confirmed via social media overnight that he will be staying with the Wildcats. 

“I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days,” Stoops tweeted. “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 leave the University of Kentucky right now. I have a great job at a place I love, and I get to work with the best administration and greatest fan base in college football right where I’m at. I’m excited to say I’m a Wildcat!”

Stoops, 56, took over a moribund Kentucky team in 2013, eventually guiding the Wildcats to a bowl game appearance in his fourth season. Since 2018, Stoops has quietly transformed into one of the top coaches in the SEC. He has a 47-28 record over the past six years with four bowl wins over the past five seasons. Kentucky has won 10 games twice over that period, which matches the same number that Texas A&M has since 1998. Prior to Stoops’s arrival, the Wildcats had not won 10 games since 1977. 

For a time on Saturday, it seemed likely he was prepared to take on a much larger SEC challenge in attempting to lead Texas A&M to prominence. That’s not the case anymore, however, as a continued run with Kentucky is in the cards. 

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/kentucky-coach-mark-stoops-decides-to-stay-with-wildcats-after-emerging-as-texas-a-ms-top-target/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2023-11-26 06:23:24

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