$37 Million SEC Coach Fired After 41-0 Loss: Report

By Jordan SiglerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Just when it appeared the dust settled on the SEC head coaching search, another job opened on Sunday night.

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The Florida Gators hired Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall. The Auburn Tigers are giving a chance to Alex Golesh after going 9-2 with USF this season. Arkansas hired Ryan Silverfield away from Memphis.

Lane Kiffin sent shockwaves around the nation when he chose to leave Ole Miss for LSU amid the Rebels run to the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to become the permanent head coach.

College football head coach Mark Stoops of the Kentucky Wildcats talks with head coach Shane Beamer of the South Carolina Gamecocks

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On Sunday, reports surfaced that Kentucky was set to discuss the future of head coach Mark Stoops.

The Wildcats were embarrassed 41-0 by rival Louisville on Saturday. The loss dropped Kentucky to 5-7, making the program ineligible to make a bowl game.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Kentucky is set to fire Stoops on Monday. The program is set to pay Stoops' nearly $37 million buyout within the next two months.

"Sources: Kentucky is expected fire coach Mark Stoops, with the process set to formally play out tomorrow," Thamel posted on X. "Kentucky will owe Stoops more than $37 million, per his contract, which is set to be paid out within 60 days."

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Stoops went 82-80 during his 13 seasons at Kentucky, making him the program's winningest coach. (The Wildcats had to vacate 10 wins from the 2021 season for NCAA violations.)

Stoops signed a contract extension with Kentucky in 2022 amid a 7-6 season. The Wildcats last winning season came in 2023 when the program finished 7-6. Kentucky went 4-8 in 2024.

Kentucky struggled this season amid a rigorous schedule that included ranked teams in Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The Wildcats started the season 2-5 before earning three straight wins to start November.

Kentucky lost its final two games of the season, with Vandy blowing out the Wildcats 45-17 on Nov. 22.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

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