Mark Stoops to Kentucky, per report

Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops will be the next head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, according to a report by the mega-outlet Kentucky Sports Radio. More to come.

Mark Stoops tells Kentucky "no thanks"... or does he?

Kyle Tucker of the Courrier Journal is a respected journalist. So when he said last night that a trusted source told him Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops had told Kentucky "no thanks," I listened.

Per a source inside UK athletics, Butch Jones, Sonny Dykes and Mark Stoops have all said "no thanks" to Kentucky.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

Mike MacIntyre and one other unnamed coach still on UK's radar, per source.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

Source on UK football search: "All the agents are telling their coaches it's a dead-end job and if they're an up-and-comer, don't touch it."

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

He's right. Kentucky is a dead-end job. Even if Kentucky is at its absolute best, it's still an underdog in 4 of its 7 yearly non-conference games. It's potentially possible to use it as a stepping-stone job like James Franklin did at Vanderbilt, but everything must break right, and the coach must then leave as soon as it does (see Dan Mullen staying too long at Mississippi State).

But now Tucker says his source had bad information and that Stoops is still considering the job.

Things changing. Stoops apparently is still in play and UK pushing for a quick resolution.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

Certainly possible I got bad info on Stoops last night. If so, sincere apologies. Also possible things changed. Either way, Stoops in play.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

I certainly wouldn't knowingly put out something wrong. When someone connected directly to the program talks, I listen.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

More importantly, it sounds like this search is winding down and among the names still in play, UK is going to get a strong coach.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 27, 2012

Interesting stuff here.

As I've said before, Mark Stoops is a defensive coordinator. He transformed Florida state's defense from one of the worst in the BCS (2009) to a respectable defense in 2010, into a top-ten unit in 2011 and 2012. But his schemes are not revolutionary, nor is he a huge loss on the recruiting trail. As Jimbo Fisher noted yesterday, and not in any way a slight to Stoops' ability, many top defensive coordinators would love a chance to coach for Florida State.

Kentucky linebacker tweets "Stoops"

Well, this is interesting.

So far in the saga that is the "will he or won't he" head coaching job search saga of Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops,Jeremy Fowler of CBS reported that Stoops interviewed with Kentucky about its vacant head coaching position sometime around Thanksgiving.

Then Monday, coach Jimbo Fisher denied reports that Mark Stoops had interviewed with anyone, and expounded on FSU's plans plans should Stoops leave (and noted that he hopes Stoops does get a good job at some point).

And Monday afternoon, Kentucky linebacker Pancho Thomas tweeted the following:

Stoops!

— Pancho Thomas (@JussstCallMeDom) November 26, 2012

That's all Thomas had to say.

Does this mean Stoops is going to Kentucky? Maybe not.

A key thing of note here is that Thomas is from Tallahassee, the home of Florida State. It's quite possible that someone from back home told him about the rumor that Stoops was leaving for Kentucky, and that he took it as gospel.

Continue to follow this story using the story stream (at right).

Jimbo Fisher denies Mark Stoops interviewed and declines to comment further

"He hasn't."