Kentuckyâs Mark Stoops evasive when asked about Texas A&M job
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops dodged questions about his potential candidacy at Texas A&M following the Wildcats’ 38-31 victory over Louisville on Saturday.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported earlier Saturday that Stoops, in his 11th year at Kentucky, is being viewed as a possible replacement for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. Asked about the possibility in his post-game press conference, Stoops was evasive.
“This is a big win for our program and state,” he said, via Kentucky Sports Radio. “I’m keeping the focus and concentration on our team.”
The 56-year-old Stoops is 73-64 since 2013 at Kentucky, including 7-5 this season. He has a pair of 10-win seasons with the Wildcats, who’d had just one in the previous 61 years prior to his arrival.
Texas A&M fired Fisher in the midst of his sixth season on Nov. 12, during which he went 45-25 but never seriously challenged for the SEC West. The Aggies are said to be pursuing a program-builder to replace Fisher, who routinely put together top recruiting classes but could not sustain a winning culture.
Other coaches reportedly on Texas A&M’s radar are Duke’s Mike Elko (a former Aggies assistant), Arizona’s Jedd Fisch, Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Texas-San Antonio’s Jeff Traylor.
Here’s Thamel’s report: