LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has signed an amended contract extension through June 2031 that in February will boost his base annual salary to $8.6 million plus incentives.

What You Need To Know

  • The deal increases Mark Stoops’ buyout from $1.75 million to $4.5 million if he leaves the program before June 30

  • The revised contract includes bonuses for reaching College Football Playoff semifinal games ranging from $300,000 to $800,000

  •  With the deal, Stoops became the sixth highest paid coach in college football

  • Kentucky closes the regular season on Saturday against rival Louisville

The 10th-year coach, who is earning $6.35 million this season, signed the new deal on Nov. 11, a day before the Wildcats fell 24-21 to Vanderbilt. It replaces the previous extension signed last December that ran through June 2028 and deletes the clause that automatically extended his contract by one year if Kentucky won seven games and by two years for 10 wins. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the deal makes Stoops the sixth highest paid coach in college football, behind Alabamba's Nick Saban, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Georgia's Kirby Smart, LSU's Brian Kelly and Michigan State's Mel Tucker. 

The deal increases Stoops’ buyout from $1.75 million to $4.5 million if he leaves the program before June 30, with decreases of $500,000 before June 30 each subsequent year.

Athletic director Mitch Barnhart said in a news release dated Nov. 18 that was posted on the school's website that the agreement had been in the works for more than a month and added that continuity was “more and more important in today’s landscape.”

Stoops said in the release that he wanted to affirm his commitment and added, “I’ve loved it here and am excited for our future.”

The revised contract includes bonuses for reaching College Football Playoff semifinal games ranging from $300,000 to $800,000 for winning the national championship.

The announcement comes at a time when the Wildcats have fallen short of their early season expectations. Kentucky began the season with a 4-0 start, including a win over then 12th ranked Florida in the Swamp, leading to a Top 10 ranking. Since then, the Wildcats have stumbled, winning only two of their last seven games, with stinging home losses against South Carolina and Vanderbilt. 

Already Kentucky’s longest-tenured coach, Stoops (65-58) surpassed Paul “Bear” Bryant as its career wins leader with his 61st in a victory over Florida in September. The contract extension lauded many of Stoops' other accomplishments, including seven straight bowl games, the only Kentucky coach to have two 10-win seasons and the longest active winning streak against non-conference opponents in the nation. 

Kentucky closes the regular season on Saturday against rival Louisville before awaiting its school-record seventh consecutive bowl assignment.

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