This morning, Kentucky announced that the university and Mark Stoops have agreed to a amendment that restructures the deal for head coach Mark Stoops.
“This amendment has been in the works since early this offseason and it was important that we finalize it before the start of the 2019 season,” athletic director Mitch Barnhart shared in the school’s statement.
Here are the relevant amended details, per the school’s release:
The term of the contract is unaffected by the amendment and lasts through June 30, 2025. Total guaranteed compensation for each of the remaining six years on the contract will increase by $500,000 annually. Stoops will have the opportunity to earn $250,000 for each win beginning with the ninth win of each season, but will no longer receive $250,000 for the seventh and eighth win each season as he did previously. The amendment provides for new incentive payments for $50,000 for winning Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year and $100,000 for winning National Coach of the Year. Other incentive payments are unchanged.
The amendment increases the buyout UK will be owed to $1.75 million should the agreement be terminated with five full seasons remaining on it, $1.65 million if it is terminated with four seasons remaining, $1.55 million if it is terminated with three seasons remaining and $1.5 million if it is terminated with both two seasons and one season remaining.
Last season, Kentucky put together their best season in over four decades (10-3) including a Citrus Bowl win, and the program has put together three straight bowl appearances. That special season included the program’s first win over Florida in 31 seasons.
Stoops was brought in to lead the program in 2013, and put together a 2-win season in year one, and has gradually built the program, starting with two straight 5-7 years in years two and three, followed by two straight 7-6 finishes in years four and five, and the ten-win season last year.
Stoops is 36-39 overall, with a 17-31 mark in the SEC, and has built some serious momentum at Kentucky like the program hasn’t seen in decades.
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