'I'm A Wildcat!': Mark Stoops Officially Shoots Down Texas A&M Aggies Coaching Rumors

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops officially shot down expansive rumors that he would be taking over duties with the Texas A&M Aggies.

Matt Galatzan | Nov 26, 2023

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The Texas A&M Aggies search for a new head coach to replace the recently fired Jimbo Fisher was reportedly nearing an end on Saturday night.

However, that has now proven to be false with Kentucky coach Mark Stoops electing to stay in Lexington, despite the early reports.

Stoops released a statement to that effect on Saturday night.

"I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days," Stoops said in the statement. "It’s true I was contacted about a potential opportunity this weekend, but after celebrating a big win against our rivals with players I love like family, I knew in my heart I couldn’t leave the University of Kentucky right now. I have a great job at a place I love, and I get to work with the best administration and greatest fan base in college football right where I’m at. I’m excited to say I’m a Wildcat!"

Mark StoopsKentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops gives a thumbs up before the game against the Florida Gators at Kroger Field / Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Stoops, the younger brother of legendary former Oklahoma Sooners coach, Bob Stoops, was originally hired to lead the Wildcats in 2013, in what was his first job as a head coach.

With Kentucky, Stoops wildly exceeded normal expectations, going 73-64 overall and 35-55 in the SEC, in what has been notoriously known as one of the most difficult jobs in the Power 5.

As of this season, Stoops has also led the Wildcats to eight-straight bowl appearances and is 4-3 in those appearances heading into this season. He also led Kentucky to a pair of 10-win seasons, finishing second in the SEC East in both of those campaigns.

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Before his time with the Wildcats, Stoops was known as one of the brightest defensive minds in the game, spending three years with the Florida State Seminoles as the team's defensive coordinator from 2010-2012, and six seasons as the Arizona defensive coordinator from 2004-2009.

The Aggies will now continue their search going forward into the weekend.

Published Nov 26, 2023

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.