He was the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1999 through the 2016 season, and on an interim basis during the 2021 Alamo Bowl.

He is a 1978 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, where his father was the long-time defensive coordinator of the football team.

During his tenure on the Wildcats staff, Stoops played a key role in their impressive turnaround, helping take what many considered to be the worst program in Division I-A to national contention.

Stoops then left for the University of Florida, serving three years as Steve Spurrier's defensive coordinator.

[9] Due to his success leading defenses at Kansas State and Florida, Stoops was mentioned as a future head coach.

[citation needed] Stoops led the Sooners to the 2000 BCS National Championship and finished the season undefeated, outscoring thirteen opponents by a combined 481–194.

Under Stoops, Oklahoma had four BCS National Championship Game appearances, a record shared with Florida State.

Stoops posted a 121-29 (.807) conference record during his career, and was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year six times.

In his 18 seasons as Sooners' head coach, Stoops was 11–7 against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry.

During a five-game winning streak in that rivalry from 2000 to 2004, his Sooners handed the Longhorns two of their worst defeats in school history, 63–14 in 2000[11] and 65–13 in 2003.

[14] On July 11, 2007, Oklahoma was placed on probation for two years by the NCAA for a rules violation involving quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman JD Quinn, whom the university had previously suspended from the team due to the players' efforts to obtain payment for hours not worked.

[16] Oklahoma appealed the NCAA's ruling of a "failure to monitor" the employment of players in the program, as well as a reduction in scholarships and probation lasting until May 2010.

Stoops' success at Oklahoma made him the frequent subject of head coach searches by NFL teams and college programs alike, which he repeatedly turned down.

[21] In the 2012 season, he led the Sooners back to the top 25 and went to the Cotton Bowl, losing to Heisman Trophy-winning Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies, 41–13.

[23] On February 7, 2019, Stoops announced his plans to come out of retirement, as he was named head coach/general manager of the Dallas Renegades in the XFL.

[30] They have three children: a daughter, Mackenzie, who now attends the University of Oklahoma, and twin sons, Isaac and Drake.

[33] Stoops' younger brother, Mike, is the former defensive coordinator for the Sooners and was previously head football coach at the University of Arizona.