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Kentucky’s Stein set to make $28.5M in 5-year deal as new football coach; Stoops owed nearly $37.7M

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — New Kentucky football coach Will Stein’s deal will pay him $28.5 million over five years, while fired coach Mark Stoops will be paid nearly $37.7 million in severance paid out through the 2030-31 contract year.

The school released a term sheet outlining details of Stein’s deal and Stoops’ separation agreement Monday night.

Stein’s deal has $100,000 annual increases in the salary, as well as up to $2.15 million annually in performance incentives. If Kentucky fires Stein without cause, he would receive 70% of the remaining salary, paid monthly over the agreement’s remaining term.

Stein had previously worked as Oregon’s offensive coordinator.

As for Stoops, he was due to receive more than $3.9 million in a lump sum within 15 days of the Dec. 1 separation. He would then be paid $6.75 million quarterly each year until April 1, 2031. Those payments would not be subject to mitigation, meaning a reduction based on earnings from future employment.

The agreement spreads out the payments over years rather than within 60 days as his contract previously stipulated.

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Kentucky's Stein set to make $28.5M in 5-year deal as new football coach; Stoops owed nearly $37.7M | iNFOnews.ca
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops walks the field before an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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