As Kentucky’s football season disappoints fans once again, calls to replace head coach Mark Stoops are growing louder. While Stoops was once celebrated for bringing stability to the program, recent struggles have led to increased scrutiny over his ability to maintain competitiveness in the SEC. However, while fans might want change, the reality is more complex. A hidden element in Stoops’ contract is likely to keep him on the Kentucky sidelines: the buyouts for his assistant coaches.
Here’s why Stoops’ contract and the buyouts attached to it make a coaching change nearly impossible.
Mark Stoops Contract Details
- Contract Duration: Through June 2031
- Base Salary: $8.6 million per year
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Performance Incentives:
- College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal Appearance: $300,000 bonus
- CFP Championship Appearance: $500,000 bonus
- National Championship Victory: $800,000 bonus
Mark Stoops Buyout Details – The Real Barrier
Will Kentucky be forced to FIRE Mark Stoops? https://t.co/fZc9AJSWq5
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) November 11, 2024
If Kentucky were to fire Stoops without cause, they would face a tremendous financial obstacle:
- Stoops’ Buyout: Over $40 million (75% of remaining guaranteed compensation)
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Assistant Coaches’ Buyouts: Exceeds $10.7 million for Stoops’ coaching staff
- This lesser-known aspect of Stoops’ contract creates a hidden reason for Kentucky to keep him. Terminating Stoops without cause would trigger not only his own buyout but also significant payouts to his entire coaching staff.
- The total cost to release Stoops and his assistants would exceed $50 million, making the financial hit far too large for Kentucky to absorb.
Do These Buyouts Make Firing Stoops Nearly Impossible?
While Stoops’ own buyout is a heavy burden, it’s the added cost of releasing his assistant coaches that creates a “hidden clause” tying him to the program. The buyout for his staff wasn’t as publicly discussed as his own contract, but it plays a critical role in Kentucky’s decision-making. Together, these buyouts mean that Kentucky would need to spend a massive sum to part ways with Stoops and start fresh. For a program without the financial resources or selling power of SEC football powerhouses, this is probably too much to afford.
In the end, this hidden cost in Stoops’ contract—the buyouts for his assistant coaches—makes it highly unlikely that Kentucky will make a coaching change, regardless of recent on-field struggles. While fans may hope for a fresh direction, this contractual reality means Stoops is likely to remain, as the financial penalties make any other choice almost unthinkable.
