LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops has been named the new head football coach at the University of Kentucky.
Stoops, 45, the younger brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Arizona coach Mike Stoops, will become the third brother in his family to become a head coach at a BCS program.
In announcing the hiring on UK's website, athletic director Mitch Barnhart said, "New beginnings always provide a sense of excitement. That's why today I'm excited for Mark Stoops and his family as
they provide a new beginning for our football program, fans and
players.
"Mark's passion has been evident in the way he coaches and in his
love for the game of football. That passion carried over into our
process and his desire to wear the Blue and White. Our desire to get
better defensively and continue to expand our recruiting base helped
guide us to Mark. He comes from a coaching family and has been in big
games and big atmospheres throughout his career. That has prepared him
for this opportunity to become head coach at Kentucky. We welcome
Mark, Chantel, Will and Zack to the Big Blue Nation."
Stoops, in a release from UK, said:
"I am thrilled to be named the head football coach at the University
of Kentucky," Stoops said. "My family and I are excited and looking
forward to becoming a part of the Big Blue Nation.
"First of all, I want to thank Jimbo Fisher and Florida State
University for allowing me to be the defensive coordinator at Florida
State. It has been three of the greatest years of my life. I am
grateful for the support of all Seminole fans as we focus on the ACC
Championship.
"I want to thank President Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for this
opportunity. 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."
The Orlando Sentinel reported on its website this afternoon that Stoops is in practice with Florida State this afternoon. The Seminoles are preparing for the ACC championship game against Georgia Tech on Saturday. A news conference is tentatively planned for Sunday.
Stoops would replace Joker Phillips, who was fired with two games left in his third season, which ended last Saturday with a 2-10 record.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said: "I am extremely happy for Mark and his family. He has done a tremendous job for us here as a defensive
coordinator and he is a vital part of our staff. I always say you want
the people who work for you to advance and reach their goals and
aspirations and I couldn't be happier. He has done a super job for us
and this opportunity is well deserved. He is very well prepared and I
think he will do one heck of a job for the University of Kentucky. I was
very fortunate to have him on our staff and consider him a good
friend."
More on Stoops from UK's release:
Stoops has been defensive coordinator at FSU for three seasons,
inheriting a unit ranked 108th in the NCAA in total defense and turning
it into one of the nation's best. Heading into Saturday's Atlantic
Coast Conference championship game with a 10-2 record and No. 13/12
national ranking, the Seminoles are second in the nation in total
defense, allowing 249.4 yards per game, and seventh nationally in
scoring defense at 15.1 points per game. Playing well against the run
and the pass, FSU is fourth in the country in both rushing defense and
pass efficiency defense. FSU leads the ACC in seven defensive
categories. Stoops also coaches the defensive backs under head coach
Jimbo Fisher.
Eight Seminoles on defense earned 2012 All-ACC honors, including four
first-team selections, highlighted by one of the nation's top defensive
end duos in Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine, who combined for 24
sacks and 31 tackles for loss. Werner is a finalist for the 2012 Bronko
Nagurski Award as the National Defensive Player of the Year and is the
national co-leader in sacks with 13. Stoops also coached cornerback
Ronald Darby to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Seminoles' prowess is a continuation of the 2011 season, when
Stoops' troops led the nation in fewest yards allowed per carry (2.3),
ranked fourth in the nation in total defense (275 yards per game),
second in rushing defense (82.7 ypg), fourth in scoring defense (15.1
points per game), eighth in tackles for loss (8.6 per game) and
quarterback sacks (3.1 per game). FSU led the ACC in eight defensive
categories.
Stoops overhauled the Florida State defense in 2010, his first season
as defensive coordinator. The Seminoles gave up 19.6 points per game,
third-best in the ACC and 20th nationally. FSU ranked 42nd nationally
in total defense that season; in contrast, the team was 108th nationally
in total defense and 94th in scoring defense in 2009, the year before
Stoops' arrival. FSU improved its overall defense by more than 80 yards
per game, primarily by limiting opponents to 75 fewer rushing yards per
game. The Seminoles ranked third in the nation in quarterback sacks
and were 21st in tackles for loss. In the secondary, Stoops coached
Xavier Rhodes to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and National
Defensive Freshman of the Year accolades.
During Stoops' three seasons, FSU has gone 10-4, 9-4 and 10-2,
including wins over South Carolina in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl and
Notre Dame in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl. The Seminoles' 2012 bowl bid
will be announced Sunday.
Stoops was defensive coordinator and DBs coach at Arizona from
2004-09, working for his brother, Mike, who was head coach of the
Wildcats. During Mark's time there, Arizona's records improved
steadily, going 3-8, 3-8, 6-6, 5-7, 8-5 and 8-5. The Wildcats advanced
to the Las Vegas Bowl and Holiday Bowl during the last two years. Mark
and Mike are also brothers of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, with Mark
being the youngest of the three. Mike is currently the defensive
coordinator on Bob's staff at Oklahoma.
Stoops inherited an Arizona unit that was 109th in the nation in
total defense and 107th in scoring defense in 2003, the year before he
arrived. By the end of his term at Arizona, the Wildcats ranked in the
nation's top-25 in total defense his final two seasons and ranked as
high as 33rd in scoring defense.
Prior to Arizona, Stoops coached the defensive backs three years at
Miami (Fla.). The 2001 national champion Hurricanes led the nation in
pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and turnover margin. That team
also established a school record with 27 interceptions and 45 total
takeaways.
Stoops' 2002 secondary led the nation in pass defense and pass
efficiency defense. Despite having to replace all four starters in the
defensive backfield, the 2003 team led the nation in pass defense. In
his three seasons, Miami went 35-3, including the 12-0 Rose Bowl title
campaign, plus appearances in the Fiesta and Orange bowls. Ten Miami
defensive backs who played at least one season under Stoops were
eventually selected in the National Football League draft – seven in the
first round.
Stoops got his first experience in leading a defense as co-defensive
coordinator at Houston in the 2000 season. He coached the secondary at
Wyoming from 1997-99 and the Cowboys notched three-straight winning
seasons. A highlight of his time there was a school-record 24
interceptions in the '97 season. His first full-time coaching job was in
1996 at South Florida, helping USF in the start-up of its program
before the Bulls had their first kickoff in '97.
Stoops has recruited and developed numerous outstanding defensive
backs, many of whom went on to National Football League careers. Among
the notables are Antoine Cason and Michael Johnson at Arizona, Miami's
Philip Buchanon, Kelly Jennings, Brandon Meriweather, Ed Reed, Antrel
Rolle, Mike Rumph and Sean Taylor and Wyoming's Brian Lee.
Stoops was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. Like his brothers, Mark
played in the secondary at the University of Iowa for Hall of Fame coach
Hayden Fry. He participated in four bowl games as a player. Fry hired
Stoops as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa in the 1990 and '91
seasons. The Hawkeyes won the 1990 Big Ten title and played in the Rose
Bowl, duplicating feats Stoops also achieved as a player. Stoops went
on to coach four years in high school before entering the collegiate
ranks.
Stoops and his wife, Chantel, have two sons, Will and Zack.
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