24 to watch in 2024: Can Mark Stoops take Kentucky to another level after Texas A&M saga?
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24 to watch in 2024
The Lexington Herald-Leader is profiling 24 individuals this month that you should be keeping an eye on in 2024. The selected group represents a cross-section of industries, political parties, missions and the state itself.
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The Lexington Herald-Leader is profiling 24 individuals this month that you should be keeping an eye on in 2024. The selected group represents a cross-section of industries, political parties, missions and the state itself. We believe each is notable for their contributions to Kentucky, as well as their plans for the next 12 months.
Who: Mark Stoops, University of Kentucky football head coach.
Background: The winningest coach in UK football history, Mark Stoops has led the Wildcats from 2-10 in his first season in 2013 to eight consecutive bowl games. Included in that stretch are two 10-win seasons, a feat UK had not accomplished since 1977 before Stoops was hired as coach. Entering his 12th season at Kentucky in 2024, Stoops is the second-longest tenured football coach in the Southeastern Conference.
Why 2024 will be notable: There was a time when simply reaching bowl games was considered a success for Kentucky, but Stoops has raised expectations to the point back-to-back 7-6 seasons have felt like a disappointment. The spotlight increased after Stoops announced he was returning to UK amid reports he was on the verge of leaving for Texas A&M in December before some Aggies fans voiced their displeasure with the hire. Add in the frustrating finish to the Gator Bowl, and the pressure is on Stoops to find a way to succeed in the new landscape of college football.
The SEC will drop its two-division format in 2024, making UK’s schedule more difficult with Texas and Oklahoma joining the league. Stoops has made no secret of the need for UK fans to increase donations to name, image and likeness collectives to help coaches recruit and retain top talent. The transfer portal has allowed for quick roster rebuilds, but it also makes programs like UK vulnerable to historic powers poaching their best players. This year will go a long way to determining if Stoops has hit a ceiling at Kentucky or can make the Wildcats a contender in the expanded 12-team playoff.
What others say: “He’s got a great pulse on what the environment is. … He does a nice job of sort of understanding our roster, how we’re made. What we have to do is we have to continue to rebuild that roster.” — UK defensive coordinator Brad White
What Stoops says: “The offseason is huge right now. It’s free agency, and you have to make sure you’re putting yourself in a position to make a team better. … I think we have an opportunity to have a very good team, and we just have to stay the course and adapt to the way things are and continue to bring in great transfers ... that fit our culture and continue to give us a chance to win.”
This story was originally published January 14, 2024 at 10:00 AM.
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