LEXINGTON, Ky. — The college football coaching carousel is running at full speed but one coach who isn't looking to switch schools is University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops.

Stoops and UK have agreed in principle to a contract extension according to a news release from UK.

UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart announced the contract will run through June 2028 and continues guaranteed extensions for any season with seven wins (one year extension) or 10 wins (two year extension). The agreement includes the Wildcats' current 9-3 campaign, which has already earned a one-year extension through 2027, regardless of the outcome of the Cats' upcoming bowl game. 

The school and Stoops have agreed on the contract and signatures are in the process of being acquired. The amended terms will be confirmed once the contract is complete. 

“We have been in discussion with Coach Stoops in recent weeks and are excited about his ongoing commitment to Kentucky,” Barnhart said in the statement. “Coach Stoops has done an outstanding job in building the UK football program and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.”

Stoops said he and Barnhart came to an agreement a couple of weeks ago and shook hands on the deal Saturday. He added, “I’m excited to continue to build this program to national prominence. We’re on our way and I’m more confident in Kentucky football than I’ve ever been. I thank President Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for their support. The continuity among us for the last nine years is extremely valuable and I’m looking forward to more success together."

President Eli Capilouto echoed the sentiments of Barnhart and said, "Our football program, under Coach Stoops, has only strengthened the commitment that we have as an institution to putting students first in everything that we do. We are preparing our students for lives of meaning and purpose when they leave UK, no matter what path they take.”

In 2013, Stoops took over a team that went 2-10 the year before. Stoops has built up the program over his tenure at UK. He has either equaled or surpassed the previous year's record for six straight seasons. 

Coach Stoops took Kentucky to his first bowl game in 2016 when the Cats went to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and in 2017 they went to the Franklin-American Mortgage Music City Bowl. IN 2018 led by National Defensive Player of the Year, Josh Allen and UK's all-time leading rusher, Benny Snell, the team went 10-3 — the best season in 41 years. The team beat Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl that year and it was only the third 10-win season in school history. That year the Cats made their first appearance in the final Associated Press poll since 1984. Stoops was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by The Associated Press, Athlon Sports and league coaches. 

Kentucky calls the 2019 season "one of the most unusual in school history." Injuries wiped out their quarterbacks and Stoops turned to wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. to take over the position. UK finished the year 6-2 an went to the Belk Bowl with a victory over Virginia Tech. In 2020, the Gator Bowl welcomed UK and they beat North Carolina State. Kentucky's 2021 opponent will be announced Sunday.