Mark Stoops turned a Florida State defense that was ranked 100th in the Football Bowl Subdivision into one of the best in the nation in just three years.
And now Stoops is taking over as head coach at Kentucky, a program that is coming off two losing seasons under Joker Phillips and has struggled against Southeastern Conference powers for decades.
This is the first head coaching job for Stoops, who has been a defensive coordinator atArizona and Florida State.
“I want to thank President (Eli) Capilouto and (athletic director) Mitch Barnhart for this opportunity,” Stoops said. “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.”
Stoops will coach Florida State in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech. It is not clear if he will remain on staff for the Seminoles’ bowl game.
“I’m very proud of him,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Very happy for him. He got an opportunity to go on and further his career and it’s something he wants to do. I’m happy for him. …
“I think he’s a hard worker. He cares about what he does. He’s very diligent about what he does. He truly loves coaching.”
The Seminoles allowed 30 points a game in 2009, the last season that Mickey Andrews coached the defense. But Fisher took over for Bobby Bowden in 2010, and he hired Stoops. In Stoops’ three seasons, those numbers have dropped dramatically — 18 points allowed per game in 2010, 15 in 2011 and 15 this season.
Florida State is second nationally in total defense (249 yards per game), third nationally in rushing defense (85 yards per game), sixth in passing defense (164.3 yards per game) and seventh in scoring defense (15 points per game).
And the Seminoles have been successful despite the loss of All-American defensive end Brandon Jenkins, who suffered a foot injury in the season opener, and talented corner Greg Reid, who was dismissed from the team on Aug. 1. Florida State lost Tank Carradine to a knee injury in the loss to Florida on Saturday.
Some reports have Seminoles offensive coordinator James Coley leaving with Stoops. Although Coley has the title, Fisher calls the plays for Florida State
Stoops has coached at Wyoming, Houston, Miami and Arizona. As Miami’s defensive backs coach from 2001-03, he coached Ed Reed, Philip Buchanon, Kelly Jennings, Brandon Merriweather, Antrel Rolle, Mike Rumph and Sean Taylor. The Hurricanes also won the national title in 2001.
Mark’s brother Bob is the head coach at Oklahoma. Another brother Mike is on the Sooners’ staff and was also the head coach at Arizona when Mark was the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator from 2004-09.
“Mark’s passion has been evident in the way he coaches and in his love for the game of football,” Barnhart said. “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.”
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