The Texas A&M coaching search is becoming more apparent as the college football regular season draws to an end. The process of selecting the next football coach for the Aggies is as unpredictable as we all imagined. While it seemed on Saturday that Texas A&M was prepared to go with its top target, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, and that an announcement would be made soon, Stoops instead announced via social media that he will remain with the Wildcats throughout the course of the night.
“I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days,” Stoops wrote on Twitter. “Yes, I was called this past weekend regarding a possible possibility, but following our thrilling victory against our opponents, which included teammates I adore like family, I realized deep down that I had to stay at the University of Kentucky for the time being. I work at a location I love, have an amazing career, and am surrounded by the best fans and administration in college football. I’m happy to announce that I’m a Wildcat.”
After taking over a resurgent Kentucky squad in 2013, head coach Brad Stoops (56), led the Wildcats to a bowl game appearance in his final season. In the years since 2018, Stoops has quietly developed into one of the SEC’s best coaches. Over the last six years, he had a 47-28 record and four bowl victories in the previous five seasons. During that time, Texas A&M and Kentucky have both won 10 games, a record they have shared since 1998. The last time the Wildcats had won ten games was in 1977, before Stoops took over.
For a brief while on Saturday, it appeared as though he was ready to face a more formidable SEC opposition in his quest to elevate Texas A&M to national prominence. That is no longer the case, though, since Kentucky is expected to continue playing.
For a brief while on Saturday, it appeared as though he was ready to face a more formidable SEC opposition in his quest to elevate Texas A&M to national prominence. That is no longer the case, though, since Kentucky is expected to continue playing.
The Aggies are in the midst of a crucial period for the team as they search for a new coach. In 2022, the Aggies drew in the greatest recruiting class ever, and in 2024, juniors will make up the majority. In the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, Texas A&M is ranked #4, behind only Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama. Any coach that takes over in College Station, Texas will have two main priorities: maintaining the current roster and making the most of the 2024 campaign.
