LEXINGTON, Ky. — During my appearance on the SEC Network’s “Paul Finebaum Show” on Tuesday, guest host Braden Gall posed an unexpected question to me.
“Would it surprise you if Mark Stoops retired at the end of the season?”
I had to take a brief pause before answering.
I eventually responded that I don’t anticipate Kentucky football’s 57-year-old coach retiring at the end of the 2024 season. However, I mentioned that while it would be surprising, I wouldn’t be shocked. In today’s landscape, sudden coaching retirements are becoming increasingly common.
Factors like name, image, and likeness issues, the transfer portal, revenue sharing with college athletes, media and booster demands, and the constant recruiting cycle contribute to the challenges coaches face.
“I thought we could have a hell of a team next year,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban after his unexpected retirement in January at age 72, “and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?”
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Coaches are compensated handsomely, with some earning staggering amounts. For example, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is set to make $53 million over five years, Dabo Swinney of Clemson will earn $11.5 million this season, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart will take home $10.7 million.
However, coaches also face the risk of sudden dismissal. Winning a national title is no guarantee of job security, as demonstrated by the abrupt firings of coaches like Gene Chizik, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron.
Given these challenges, will we ever see the longevity and loyalty of past coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams in college basketball?
Compared to his peers, Mark Stoops has been at Kentucky for a significant period. Only five Division I college football coaches have longer tenures at their respective schools than Stoops.
The oldest coaches in college football, basketball
At 73, North Carolina’s Mack Brown is the oldest D-I head football coach, while Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman are among the senior coaches in their conferences.
Reflecting on past coaching legends like Adolph Rupp, John Wooden, and Bear Bryant, the landscape of college coaching has evolved significantly over the years.
As for Mark Stoops, his brother Bob Stoops retired at a relatively young age after a successful coaching career at Oklahoma. The decision to retire ultimately lies with Mark, who celebrated his 57th birthday recently.