After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season, Virginia Tech fired head coach Brent Pry, ending his tenure with a 16-24 record over three-plus seasons.
Now, according to Amber Marie of 247 Sports, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is among the names potentially surfacing on the Hokies’ hot board. Marie even mentioned Jon Sumrall being a candidate for Virginia Tech and potentially Kentucky if there’s an opening.
“Speaking of Sumrall’s potential interest in Kentucky, an interesting name being tossed around
behind the scenes is long-time Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops,” Marie wrote.
It would be a shocking move for Stoops, who has six years remaining on his contract at Kentucky and earns roughly $9 million annually. He’s the longest-tenured coach in the SEC and has built the Wildcats into a consistent program during his 12 seasons in Lexington. Still, recent results have raised questions about the program’s trajectory.
Kentucky has gone 7-6 in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, losing both bowl games, and fell to 4-8 in 2024, missing postseason play entirely. The struggles have led some to wonder whether Stoops’ long run with the Wildcats could be nearing its end.
Stoops was nearly on the move once before. In 2023, he was reportedly close to taking the Texas A&M job before the deal fell through.
While Stoops leaving Kentucky would be stunning, Virginia Tech’s interest adds intrigue to a coaching carousel that’s already heating up early in the college football season.
