Mark Stoops Dismisses Retirement Rumors: “Zero percent chance I do that”

The Kentucky football program is stuck in a rut. The Wildcats are 3-6 with only one win in SEC play. An eight-year bowl streak will come to an end if Kentucky does not win out.

The dip in production is in Mark Stoops‘ 12th season in Lexington. He has more wins than any other coach to lead this program, but there are some folks who are antsy for a change.

Stoops will not be terminated. Notwithstanding the $44 million buyout, the head coach has earned a little leeway that he’s happily taking this fall. That’s led some folks to speculate that he may step down at the end of the year and call it quits on coaching.

That speculation didn’t appear out of nowhere. Stoops and Texas A&M had a very public flirtation a year ago and there was a moment where most Kentucky football fans thought he was on his way to College Station.

That’s the most obvious sign that his time may be nearing an end. There have been others. Over the summer, he used colorful language to complain about fundraising. That was a point of conversation during today’s press conference.

As more and more chatter percolates around Big Blue Nation, John Huang decided to ask Stoops point blank if there’s any merit to the speculation that he will retire at the end of the season.

“Zero percent chance I do that,” he quickly responded. “Next question.”

There you have it, folks. Zero. Percent.

There’s a reason why that question had not been asked. How else would he respond? “You know what, now that you mentioned it, I forgot to share that this is my last year.” Of course not. That would be silly.

This is Stoops’ job until it isn’t. For the final three games, he’s focusing on finishing a subpar season on a high note.

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