LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has found its new football coach.
The Wildcats announced Tuesday that they have hired Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to coach the Wildcats.
Stoops replaces Joker Phillips, who was fired on Nov. 4. Phillips went 13-24 in three seasons at Kentucky. The Wildcats were
0-8 in the Southeastern Conference this year.
The 45-year-old Stoops will be introduced here at a news conference on Sunday. No. 13 Florida State (10-2) plays Georgia Tech
Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
His hiring concludes a quicker-than-expected
coaching search for the university. After Saturday's season-ending loss
at Tennessee,
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said he had no timetable
to find a replacement for Phillips.
But it didn't take long for Barnhart and the Wildcats to make a move. The decision makes Stoops a head coach for the first
time in his career.
"I want to thank (Kentucky) President Eli
Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for this opportunity," Stoops said in a
statement.
"I promise the faithful of the Big Blue Nation I will be focused
and driven to create a positive, winning atmosphere for the
program and an environment that all of Kentucky can be proud of."
Stoops becomes the third brother in college
football's famed coaching family to lead his own program. Older brother
Bob Stoops
is the head coach at Oklahoma and Mike Stoops is the Sooners'
defensive coordinator. Before joining the Oklahoma staff this
year, Mike was the head coach at Arizona.
Mark Stoops has been the Seminoles' defensive coordinator the past three seasons. Florida State's defense was ranked 108th
when he took over and he has turned the Seminoles into one of the nation's top defensive teams.
The Seminoles have the nation's second-ranked defense, giving up 249.4 yards per game. Kentucky allowed 391 yards a contest
this season.
"Our desire to get better defensively and continue to expand our recruiting base helped guide us to Mark," Barnhart said.
"He comes from a coaching family and has been in big games and big atmospheres throughout his career."