Mark Thomas Stoops (born July 9, 1967) is an American college football coach and former player.

Stoops is the all-time winningest head coach in the history of the Kentucky Wildcats football program.

When Dimel was hired at the University of Houston, he took Stoops with him to join the Cougars as co-defensive coordinator (along with Dick Bumpas) and safeties coach in 2000.

[11] In February 2001, Stoops was named the defensive backs coach for the University of Miami Hurricanes, replacing Chuck Pagano, who left to go to the Cleveland Browns.

[26] The 2017 season featured ups and downs and the breakout of star running back Benny Snell.

Paced by Snell on offense and Josh Allen on defense, they snapped a 31-year losing streak to Florida,[34] finishing 9-3–only the fourth time in school history that the Wildcats have won at least nine games.

[35][36] Kentucky defeated Penn State in the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2019, giving the Wildcats their first 10-win season since 1977, and only their third in school history.

[43][44][45][46] With a revamped offense focused on the running game, the Wildcats finished the regular season with a 7–5 record routing Louisville 45–13 on Senior Day.

[52] The 2021 season was marked by key transfer arrivals for both sides of the ball: quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson on offense and linebacker Jacquez Jones on defense.

The improved play from both offense and defense led to a 9–3 regular-season record, including a 20–13 home win against Florida.

[54] The fourth consecutive bowl victory for Kentucky marked the longest streak in school history.