The primary obstacle to a head coaching change at the University of Kentucky is well known: Mark Stoops’s massive, one-sided contract. With the university on the hook for 75% of his remaining deal—an estimated $40 million—within 60 days of termination, the price is almost prohibitively high.
But that staggering number is just the tip of a very expensive iceberg. The often-overlooked cost of firing Stoops’s entire staff presents another massive financial hurdle.
The price of a failed offense
Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan was brought in on a three-year deal to revitalize the offense. Instead, the unit has regressed. Parting ways with him would mean paying out the $2,462,500 remaining on his contract. That’s a significant sum for a coordinator whose offense has struggled to score more than two touchdowns per game in SEC play.
Paying a DC on his way out?
Defensive Coordinator Brad White earns a salary of $1.7 million and has one year remaining on his deal after the 2025 season. Given the defense’s steep decline and struggles with fundamentals like tackling, it’s highly unlikely his contract would be renewed even if Stoops were to stay. Firing Stoops would simply accelerate that payout, adding another seven-figure sum to the total bill.
The financial domino effect
The costs don’t stop there. Position coaches like L'Damian Washington earn salaries in the $400,000 range, and every contract buyout adds to the pile. Once the cost of dismissing the entire current staff is calculated, the university must then come up with the money to hire a brand-new head coach and a full slate of assistants.
All told, the total financial commitment to make a wholesale change could easily climb north of $70 million. According to rumors, that is a price that Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart is unwilling to pay. While some changes may be inevitable, the kind of top-to-bottom overhaul the program desperately needs is likely out of reach without a massive, unforeseen infusion of cash.
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