SEC head coach receives long-term extension

Kentucky Wildcats head football coach Mark Stoops received a big pay raise after another successful season. Stoops will now earn $8.6 million per year through 2031 with his buyout clause being raised to $4.5 million if he leaves before this June, according to the AP.

Stoops has become Kentucky’s all-time winningest head coach after the Wildcats defeated Florida on the road 26-16 in Week 2. In his first-ever stint as a head coach in the SEC, Stoops has accumulated an overall record of 65-58.

Kentucky started this season with a 4-0 overall record but has since lost 5 of the last 7 games. Three of the losses were against ranked teams. They are 2-3 versus ranked opponents with the 26-16 win over No. 12 Florida and the 27-17 win at home over No. 16 Mississippi State.

Stoops has been on the coaching watchlist for several high-caliber Power 5 schools for several years. Stoops has coached Kentucky to four consecutive bowl wins and six consecutive bowl appearances going back to 2016.