25 Facts About Mike Stoops

Michael Joseph Stoops was born on December 13,1961 and is an American college football coach and former player.

Mike Stoops is the inside linebackers coach for the University of Kentucky, a position he has held since 2022.

Mike Stoops served as the head football coach at the University of Arizona from 2003 until his firing during the 2011 season.

Mike Stoops previously served as an assistant football coach at the University of Iowa, Kansas State University, and University of Oklahoma.

Mike Stoops is the younger brother of Bob Stoops, the former head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners football program, and the older brother of Mark Stoops, head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats football program.

Mike Stoops returned to Oklahoma as the defensive coordinator in 2012.

Mike Stoops served in the position until he was fired on October 7,2018.

Mike Stoops attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father was an assistant football coach and defensive coordinator.

Mike Stoops played on the same team with quarterback Chuck Long and was a two-time all-Big Ten Conference selection.

Mike Stoops was signed as a free agent in May 1985 by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, but was cut on August 27.

Mike Stoops took time off from his job as a graduate assistant at Iowa to play as a replacement player for a limited time in 1987 with the Chicago Bears during the NFL strike.

Mike Stoops held assistant coaching positions at the University of Iowa, Kansas State University and the University of Oklahoma.

Mike Stoops then followed and hired Texas Tech co-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes after the 2006 season.

In that game, Mike Stoops gained a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his behavior on the sideline, which led to a New Mexico touchdown.

Under the direction of Mike Stoops, Arizona scored 70 points in the season opener against the Idaho Vandals, falling just four points short of a school record for points scored in a game.

However, Mike Stoops was given strong votes of confidence by UA athletic director Jim Livengood, by university president Dr Robert Shelton, and by several prominent Arizona football boosters.

On December 23, Mike Stoops was given a contract extension through the 2013 season by Livengood.

Mike Stoops was named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award, but was not named a finalist.

On January 11,2012, Mike Stoops returned to OU as co-defensive coordinator.

Mike Stoops was to be teamed with Brent Venables, who shortly left to become the defensive coordinator at Clemson.

When his brother retired at the end of the 2016 season, Mike Stoops was retained by his successor, Lincoln Riley.

In October 2018, Mike Stoops was fired from his position as defensive coordinator shortly after losing to Texas.

Nick Saban hired Mike Stoops to be on his coaching staff as an analyst for the 2019 season.

Mike Stoops declined the position and stayed at Alabama as an analyst.

On January 28,2021, it was announced that Willie Taggart had hired Mike Stoops to be the defensive coordinator for Florida Atlantic.