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Mark Stoops's final stand? Year 13 is a test of Kentucky's program

Related Topics: Mark Stoops

When Mark Stoops arrived in Lexington back in 2013, the Kentucky job was widely considered one of the toughest in the SEC. A basketball school. A football graveyard. A place where good coaches went to get humbled with the exception of Rich Brooks.

Stoops changed that narrative. Slowly but surely, he built the Wildcats into a program capable of winning 8–10 games a year, sending players to the NFL, and earning national respect. By 2023, he had become the winningest coach in school history, surpassing even Bear Bryant. Kroger Field was renovated, new facilities were built, and the program enjoyed stability rarely seen in the SEC.