On November 27, 2012, Stoops was named head coach of the University of Kentucky football team, succeeding Joker Phillips, who was fired following a 2-10 season, the Wildcats’ worst in school history.
Stoops’ first year as coach of the Kentucky football team saw the team finish 2-10, but they improved to 5-7 in each of the next two seasons.
Victory For The Wildcats In The 2016 Season
Despite a 0-2 start to the season, Stoops led the Wildcats to a 7-6 finish in 2016, including a victory over their in-state rival, the eleventh-ranked Louisville Cardinals. In the Taxslayer Bowl, they were unable to defeat Georgia Tech.
Ups And Downs In The 2017 Season
The 2017 season was full of highs and lows, as well as the breakout of star running back Benny Snell. The team finished 7-5 and was defeated in the Music City Bowl by Northwestern.
The Historic 2018 Season For The Wildcats
The Wildcats ended a 31-year losing streak against Florida, led by Snell on offense and Josh Allen on defense, and finished with a 9-3 record. Only four times in the school’s history have the Wildcats won at least nine games.
Following Kentucky’s Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State on January 1, 2019, the Wildcats completed a 10-win season for the first time since 1977 and only the third time in school history. It was the first time a Kentucky coach had been named SEC Coach of the Year since Jerry Claiborne in 1983, when Stoops was honored.
2019 Season
The 2018-19 season was defined by triumph over adversity. The University of Kentucky decided to move wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. to quarterback after a 2-2 start and injuries to all of their quarterbacks.
On Senior Day, the Wildcats finished the regular season 7-5 after defeating Louisville 45-13 with an offense redesigned to emphasize the rushing game.
The Wildcats of Kentucky finished their season with an 8-5 win over the Hokies of Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl, scoring the game-winning touchdown with only 15 seconds remaining on the clock.
Covid-Affected 2020 Season
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, Kentucky’s regular season schedule consisted of 10 games against SEC opponents. Despite a 4-6 record, Kentucky was asked to play in a bowl game, and they will do so in the 2021 Gator Bowl against North Carolina State, which is ranked 24th in the country.
Kentucky’s 23-21 victory in the Gator Bowl under Stoops’ direction was the program’s third consecutive victory in a bowl game.
Season of 2021
The arrival of key transfer players on offense and defense in the form of quarterback Will Levis, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, and linebacker Jacquez Jones, respectively, highlighted the 2021 season.
The aforementioned players had a significant impact; the offense averaged 33.3 points per game, while the defense allowed 22.1 points per game. The team finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, including a historic 20-13 victory over Florida at home, thanks to improved play from both the offense and defense (the last home win against Florida was November 15, 1986).
Stoops leads Kentucky to a 20-17 victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl in 2022. Kentucky now has its second 10-win season since 2018, its second Citrus Bowl victory in four years, and its fourth consecutive bowl victory.
Season of 2022
Stoops will be in his tenth season as head coach of the football team in 2022, making him the head coach with the longest tenure in the program’s history. Stoops earned his 60th win as a head coach in Week 1 when Kentucky defeated Miami (OH) 37-13.
This victory tied Bear Bryant for the most in program history. He became Kentucky’s all-time winningest football coach after defeating the Florida Gators on the road by a score of 26-16 in Week 2.
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