Kentucky football fans in general are not pleased with a season that finished 5-7 and included very disappointing, if not down right embarrassing, losses to Louisville and Vanderbilt.
Many fans have vented on social media, with some even calling for a coaching change.
UK football fans need to understand that Stoops isn’t going anywhere for another year or two regardless of what happens due to the very favorable contract extension he was given last year.
If UK parted ways with Stoops this season, the school would owe him an astronomical $15.5 million. Even if 2016 is another disaster, the school still owe Stoops $12 million if they sent him packing.
What does it likely mean?
Stoops will be the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats for at least two more years. The University of Kentucky is all in on Stoops and you might as well join them.
Here are more details from Mark Story of the Herald-Leader:
According to the deal signed by Kentucky President Eli Capilouto, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and Stoops last Oct. 29, if UK were to fire the coach without cause before Dec. 1, 2017, it would owe him all the remaining salary in a contract that runs through June 30, 2020.
So if UK fired Stoops now, it would owe him $15.5 million.
Some people say Stoops, now 12-24 (4-20 in SEC games) in three seasons at UK, must have a winning season in 2016 to keep his job. As a certain former Louisville coach is wont to say: Not so fast, my friends.
If UK has a fourth straight losing season next fall, terminating the coach’s deal after the 2016 season would still cost Kentucky some $12 million.
Even for a school flush with $EC Network cash, paying someone $12 million not to coach would be a heavy lift.
Barnhart, in particular, must be sick over what happened with Kentucky football this season.
UK had the excitement of a plushly renovated Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky had eight home games. The Cats played against a schedule where, in my view, eight of Kentucky’s 12 foes turned out not to be as good as they were expected to be in the preseason.
Photo credit: Regina Rickert
