Mark Stoops says he will stay at Kentucky after pursuit from Texas A&M

Multiple reports earlier in the night said the Wildcats’ 11th-year coach would stay at Kentucky after being pursued by the Aggies.

“I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days,” Stoops said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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!”

The news that Stoops would remain at Kentucky was first reported by Kentucky Sports Radio and soon confirmed by TexAgs.com and ESPN’s Pete Thamel. TexAgs was among the first to report A&M was zeroing in on Stoops earlier Saturday. A&M officials have made no announcement as of early Sunday.

Multiple reports Friday and Saturday, not confirmed by The Eagle, indicated Stoops was a candidate for the A&M job to replace Jimbo Fisher, who was fired on Nov. 12 in the middle of his sixth season. After Kentucky’s 38-31 win over in-state rival and No. 9 Louisville on Saturday, Stoops gave an indirect answer when asked about him being connected with the A&M opening.

“Come on, you know better than that. This is a big win for our program and state. You know how good I’ve been at keeping my concentration and focus on this team. That’s all it is,” Stoops told reporters.

Last November, Stoops signed a contract extension through 2030 that raised his salary from $6.3 million to $9 million per year. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Stoops’ buyout is $4 million.

A&M has been searching for its next head football coach for almost two weeks. Elijah Robinson, the team’s associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, has served as the Aggies’ interim head coach since and has posted a 1-1 record, including a 42-30 loss to LSU on Saturday. He will also coach in A&M’s bowl game.

While reports emerged of Stoops’ serious candidacy Saturday night, a number of current A&M players expressed their opinion for the Aggies to keep Robinson on staff. Safety Jacoby Mathews even went as far to say A&M should promote Robinson into a full-time role. A number of A&M fans on social media responded to the news of A&M’s intentions to hire Stoops with negative comments.

A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said the day Fisher was fired that it was a holistic decision and described the football program as stuck in neutral. Fisher was 45-25 during his time at A&M, but had just a 19-15 record since he led the Aggies to a 9-1 finish and Orange Bowl win during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Bjork has said A&M will pay Fisher’s $76.8 million buyout for the final eight years of his contract and noted A&M’s athletic department and the 12th Man Foundation will be the only sources to cover the cost of the record-breaking buyout.

Rumors abound about who the Aggies will consider now. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor was reported to have discussed the job with Bjork, while former A&M defensive coordinator and current Duke coach Mike Elko, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Arizona coach Jeff Fisch’s names have been bandied about. 

Last week, Bjork said during an interview on the Aggie Fan Show he wanted clarity on A&M’s coaching search by Dec. 3 or 4, which is when the transfer portal window opens, while other reports indicate the Aggies preferred to wrap up the search this weekend.