The Mark Stoops era at Kentucky appears to be coming to an inevitable and painful end. With the program in a freefall, having lost 14 of 16 SEC games, a coaching change feels less like a possibility and more like a necessity.
The only thing keeping Stoops employed is his massive buyout, estimated to be nearly $40 million. But as fan apathy grows and ticket sales dwindle, the cost of keeping him may soon outweigh the cost of firing him. While Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has publicly backed his coach, he has to be quietly building a list of potential replacements.
Here are the names that should be on Kentucky’s short list.
The pipe dream: Jon Gruden
Yes, it’s a long shot, but it’s not impossible. The Super Bowl-winning coach has openly expressed his desire to coach in the SEC. A partnership would be a perfect marriage of two entities looking to rehabilitate their images: Gruden after his NFL exit, and Kentucky after its recent collapse. He would bring instant credibility and national attention to Lexington.
The hometown hero: Jon Sumrall
This might be the most logical and popular hire. Sumrall is a former Kentucky player and graduate assistant who is dominating as a head coach, boasting a 36-10 record at Troy and now Tulane. He is young, energetic, and knows the program inside and out. He would be the perfect fit to inject some much-needed life and pride back into the team. Something that has been missing for the last 3+ seasons.
The elite recruiter: Brian Hartline
As the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, Hartline has established himself as one of the best recruiters and offensive minds in the country. He has deep ties to the crucial Ohio recruiting pipeline and is the brother of former Kentucky QB Mike Hartline. He is young, innovative, and ready for his shot as a head coach.
The proven program builder: Brent Key
Key has done an outstanding job turning around a Georgia Tech program with significant built-in disadvantages. He has extensive Power Four coaching experience and has proven he can build a tough, competitive team. For fans wanting a seasoned college coach who knows how to win in a major conference, Key is an excellent choice.
Hot shot QB Guru: Will Stein
The former Trinity and Louisville QB has done wonders out in Oregon and is currently coaching what some see as the best QB in the country in Dante Moore. With ties to the state, he would be a welcome young rising star.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion