In Lexington, the power struggle between Kentucky’s two most high-profile programs have been brewing for years. It’s no secret that Mark Stoops and John Calipari never saw eye to eye. The Kentucky football HC called out Calipari in 2022 when the longtime basketball coach declared that UK is a “basketball school.” Unsurprisingly, it rubbed the football HC the wrong way.
Sure, Kentucky basketball is an elite powerhouse but football has also clawed its way out of irrelevance under Stoops. But fast forward to 2024, the dust has settled on John Calipari’s tenure. The basketball Hall of Famer, who won an NCAA Tournament national championship in 2012 and built an NBA factory in Lexington, was gone, headed to Arkansas. But how much of that was self-inflicted? And how much was influenced by the other man leading the football program?
Mark Stoops may have more leverage at Kentucky than many might realize. His influence in the school may have led to John Calipari’s exit as per the observation of the SEC squad in an episode on Locked on Ole Miss on March 14. DawgsPodcast insider Clint pulled no punches when discussing his impact. “I used to think Stoops was the dude, like I gave him a lot of props,” he stated but added a harsh reality check. “But my gosh, that is talk about the lamest of lame ducks in the SEC coaching circles. That dude wants to get out in a hurry and they want him out. I don’t know why they’re still in that relationship. He should not be in the top 10. That’s an embarrassment.” Context? He’s among the top 10 SEC coaches with the highest salaries.
Mark Stoops is made $9 million in 2024. The shocker here is that he’s someone with an all-time coaching record of 76-68. Since becoming Kentucky’s HC in 2013, he put together just two 10-win seasons winning no more than five conference games each season. But according to analyst Steven Willis, his influence extended beyond the gridiron.
“The flip side about it is Kentucky was over Calipari for years and we’re trying to find any way to run that man out,” he pointed out. “And Mark Stoops making enough money and getting just enough influence maybe decided to get them to Big Boy a little bit and now Calipari’s at Arkansas. Maybe that’s a reason that he’s worth $9 million because it’s not really results based on the field.”
In other words, Mark Stoops’ influence within the athletic department and his ability to command donor support may have helped push Calipari out the door. He hasn’t been shy about addressing the challenges of the new college athletic’s landscape, especially on the NIL side. “I think the three seasons have been absolutely, unequivocally, the most challenging,” he said on Kentucky Sports Radio. “You know, at this point, come July one, we’re supposed to have some guardrails around this thing. True authentic name, image, and likeness… The era of just truly donors pouring $20, $30 million into rosters and just paying for play, that’s been the last three years. That’s gone.” A hint of frustration and also a hint at a power shift that had taken place.
Mark Stoops’ role in John Calipari’s woes
John Calipari had long been the king of Kentucky athletics. But as the basketball program faltered and Mark Stoop’s program remained steady, the balance of influence tilted. But the downfall wasn’t just about losses. His relationship with AD Mitch Barnhart was “damaged beyond repair” as The Athletic reported. It crumbled after he lobbied for a new practice facility in 2022, only to be shut down. He publicly called out the school’s lack of investment for the basketball program.
The developments prompted Stoops to unleash his fury to fire back at him saying, “Basketball school? I thought we competed in the SEC?” Mitch Barnhart sided with Stoops and when Arkansas came calling, Kentucky didn’t even make a counteroffer. Calipari was due a staggering $35 million buyout if fired before April 1, 2024. And the Wildcats were more than happy to let him walk without paying the price.
But well, Kentucky is more than just a basketball school. And Mark Stoops has his own set of worries. It’s on him to prove that the football program deserves to be the main event.
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