Mike Stoops
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Stoops is a former American football
coach and former player. He was the head football coach at the University of Arizona
, a position he held from 2003 until his firing in 2011. Stoops previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa
, Kansas State University
, and the University of Oklahoma
. He is the younger brother of Bob Stoops
, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners football
program.
. He attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio
, where his father was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.
After high school Stoops played for the University of Iowa
Hawkeyes
(1982–1984) as a strong safety. He played on the same team with quarterback
Chuck Long
and was a two-time all-Big Ten Conference
selection.
Stoops was signed as a free agent in May 1985 by the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
(NFL), but was cut on August 27. In February 1986 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons
, but he missed the Falcons May 9–15 minicamp with a ruptured gall bladder from an auto accident and was later cut by Atlanta.
In the summer of 1987, Stoops became one of the original 80 Arena Football League (AFL) players when he suited up for the Pittsburgh Gladiators. Stoops was a key member of the Gladiators that season who went onto play in the inaugural ArenaBowl
, losing to Denver
, 45–16.
Stoops took time off from his job as a graduate assistant
at Iowa to play as a replacement player for a limited time in 1987 with the Chicago Bears during the NFL strike. Wearing #44, he played safety in three games with the Bears that year, suffering a concussion in the an October 4 victory (35–3) against the Philadelphia Eagles
. Other former Iowa players who were members of the National Football League Players Association had harsh words for Stoops. He responded, "I don't give a damn what they think. I wasn't trying to hurt anybody, and deep down, I think they know that. But if they feel that way, fine, don't ever talk to me again".
Returning to the Arena League, in the six-game AFL regular season, Stoops caught 22 passes, scored three touchdowns, made 15 tackles and recorded an interception, playing both wide receiver
and defensive back
positions.
, Kansas State University
and the University of Oklahoma
. With his hiring by Arizona in November 2003, Stoops became the school's youngest coach at hiring (41) since Larry Smith. Upon taking over, he hired his brother, University of Miami defensive backs coach Mark Stoops
, as defensive coordinator. Stoops then followed and hired Texas Tech
co-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes
after the 2006 season. Dykes, named to the All-American Football Foundation's Mike Campbell Top Assistant Award, is cited as one of the countries brightest offensive minds and top ten college recruiters by Rivals.com.
. In that game, Stoops gained a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his behavior on the sideline, which led to a New Mexico touchdown.
Following a 2007, 21–20 home loss to Stanford
, dropping the team to 2–6, local media began speculating as to whether Stoops would be fired. However, subsequent statements by the athletic director and the university's president indicated that Stoops would return for an additional season.
However, since that time, Mike Stoops has led the Arizona Wildcats to three consecutive Bowl Games and winning seasons.
, falling just four points short of a school record for points scored in a game. They went on to soundly defeat Toledo
, UCLA
, Washington
, and California
, but lost close games to New Mexico
and Stanford
.
They went on to defeat Washington State
on the road to secure bowl eligibility at six wins, but lost to Oregon
on the road after mounting a dramatic second-half come-from-behind rally, and to Oregon State
in Tucson on a last-second field goal. The Wildcats' final game of the regular season was a 31–10 victory on December 6 in Tucson against Arizona State
in the annual Territorial Cup
rivalry game. With that win and a final regular season record of 7–5, Arizona accepted a bid from to the Las Vegas Bowl
to face BYU
. It was the Wildcats' first bowl appearance since the 1998 Holiday Bowl
.
Stoops' reputation in Tucson was mixed; while the Wildcats had a winning record and appeared in and won their first bowl game in ten years, many fans were divided during the season on whether he should be retained as head coach, as they expected Stoops to guide the team to an eight, nine or even ten-win season given the talent level and the offensive and defensive systems employed by the Wildcats (and with the overall talent level in the Pac-10
conference perceived to be not as strong as usual in 2008). While Stoops brought the Wildcat football program to a level of respectability which was lost during the era of John Mackovic
, some fans were disappointed the program was not at the elite level of Stoops' former program Oklahoma
or of perennial Pac-10 football power USC
. However, Stoops was given strong votes of confidence by UA (later UNLV
) athletic director Jim Livengood, by university president Dr. Robert Shelton, and by several prominent Arizona football boosters.
On December 18, Stoops was rumored to be a candidate for the Iowa State
head coaching job, which eventually went to Auburn
assistant Paul Rhoads
. On December 20, Arizona defeated BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. On December 23, Stoops was given a contract extension through the 2013 season by Livengood.
"We're very pleased with the progress of Arizona football under Mike's direction," Livengood said. "His personal growth as a coach has been outstanding and we’re glad to continue moving forward with him as the steward for Arizona football."
Stoops said on the news of his extension, "I'm very excited about the extension...The administration always has shown a commitment to what we’re doing, and this bolsters that support...We’re working hard to build stability and the commitment from Jim and the university at this time will go a long way to solidify that effort. I’m happy to be here in Tucson for a long time as head coach of our Wildcats. This is where my family wants to be."
. Stoops was named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award
, but was not named a finalist.
. This bid was due, in part, to only four Pac-10 teams being bowl eligible after USC
was sanctioned from bowl eligibility, and Arizona State
was denied a bowl waiver from the NCAA
, which it needed because two of ASU's wins came against FCS teams. Both USC and Arizona State finished higher than Arizona in the Pac-10 standings. Oregon
and Stanford
were selected for BCS bowls, and the Rose Bowl
selected an at large team, TCU
, to pair with the Big Ten champion, Wisconsin
, leaving the second highest Pac-10 affiliated bowl game, the Alamo Bowl, to choose between Arizona and Washington.
, Stoops was relieved of his duties on Oct 10, 2011 (with the announcement made by athletic director Greg Byrne
, who replaced Jim Livengood in 2010). Co-defensive coordinator Tim Kish
was named as interim head coach. Stoops will get a $1.4 million buyout from Arizona.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He was the head football coach at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, a position he held from 2003 until his firing in 2011. Stoops previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. He is the younger brother of Bob Stoops
Bob Stoops
Robert Anthony "Bob" Stoops is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. During the 2000 season, Stoops led the Sooners to an Orange Bowl victory and a national championship....
, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners football
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
program.
Early life and playing career
Stoops is one of six children born to Ron, Sr. and Evelyn "Dee Dee" Stoops in Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. He attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, where his father was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.
After high school Stoops played for the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
(1982–1984) as a strong safety. He played on the same team with quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Chuck Long
Chuck Long
Chuck Long is an American football coach. He played quarterback in college at Iowa for Hayden Fry and professionally with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame. In the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine he was chosen as one of...
and was a two-time all-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
selection.
Stoops was signed as a free agent in May 1985 by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), but was cut on August 27. In February 1986 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but he missed the Falcons May 9–15 minicamp with a ruptured gall bladder from an auto accident and was later cut by Atlanta.
In the summer of 1987, Stoops became one of the original 80 Arena Football League (AFL) players when he suited up for the Pittsburgh Gladiators. Stoops was a key member of the Gladiators that season who went onto play in the inaugural ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl I
Arena Bowl '87 was the Arena Football League's very first Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #2 Denver Dynamite against the #1 Pittsburgh Gladiators...
, losing to Denver
Denver Dynamite (arena football)
This article is about the former Arena Football League franchise. For the Professional Arena Soccer League soccer club, see Denver Dynamite ....
, 45–16.
Stoops took time off from his job as a graduate assistant
Graduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
at Iowa to play as a replacement player for a limited time in 1987 with the Chicago Bears during the NFL strike. Wearing #44, he played safety in three games with the Bears that year, suffering a concussion in the an October 4 victory (35–3) against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Other former Iowa players who were members of the National Football League Players Association had harsh words for Stoops. He responded, "I don't give a damn what they think. I wasn't trying to hurt anybody, and deep down, I think they know that. But if they feel that way, fine, don't ever talk to me again".
Returning to the Arena League, in the six-game AFL regular season, Stoops caught 22 passes, scored three touchdowns, made 15 tackles and recorded an interception, playing both wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
positions.
Coaching career
Stoops held assistant coaching positions at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. With his hiring by Arizona in November 2003, Stoops became the school's youngest coach at hiring (41) since Larry Smith. Upon taking over, he hired his brother, University of Miami defensive backs coach Mark Stoops
Mark Stoops
Mark Stoops is an American football defensive coordinator for Florida State.-Playing career:Stoops, one of six children born to Ron and Dee Stoops, attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.After high school Stoops...
, as defensive coordinator. Stoops then followed and hired Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
co-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes
Sonny Dykes
Sonny Dykes is an American football coach and former college baseball player. He is currently the head football coach at the Louisiana Tech University, a position he has held since 2010. Dykes has served as offensive coordinator under Mike Stoops, Mike Leach and Hal Mumme...
after the 2006 season. Dykes, named to the All-American Football Foundation's Mike Campbell Top Assistant Award, is cited as one of the countries brightest offensive minds and top ten college recruiters by Rivals.com.
Highlights
- In 2004, his first year, Stoops guided his team to an improved 3–8 record, including a victory over #20 Arizona State2004 Arizona State Sun Devils football teamThe Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. It played its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.-Schedule:...
in the Territorial CupTerritorial CupThe Territorial Cup is a trophy that is awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game, commonly referred to as "The Duel in the Desert," played annually between the Arizona State Sun Devils football team of Arizona State University and the Arizona Wildcats football team of the...
. - In 2005, the Wildcats defeated #7 UCLAUCLA Bruins FootballThe UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
at home, 52–14. - In 2006, Stoops led the Wildcats to an improved 6–6 record, the first non-losing season for the school since 19981998 Arizona Wildcats football teamThe 1998 Arizona Wildcats football team represented University of Arizona during the 1998 NCAA college football season.-Regular season:*In the Territorial cup, the Wildcats beat Arizona State by a score of 50-42.-Team Players drafted into in the NFL:...
when the Wildcats went 12–1 under Dick TomeyDick Tomey-External links:* *...
. The team also defeated #8 California2006 California Golden Bears football teamThe 2006 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2006-2007 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
at home, 24–20. - In 2007, his Wildcats defeated #2 Oregon2007 Oregon Ducks football teamThe 2007 Oregon Ducks football team represents the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2007. The team is coached by Mike Bellotti and plays their home games at Autzen Stadium....
, 34–24, in TucsonTucson, ArizonaTucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. It was Stoops' fourth win over a ranked team in four years, all in the month of November. - In 2008, the Wildcats earned their first bowl berth under Stoops, defeating BYU2008 BYU Cougars football teamThe 2008 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2008 college football season.Prior to the 2008 season, BYU had won consecutive Mountain West Conference championship titles without losing a conference game. It had also finished with an 11-2 overall record for...
in the Las Vegas Bowl2008 Las Vegas BowlThe 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl was an NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS post-season college football bowl game between the Arizona Wildcats, the fifth pick from the Pacific 10 Conference and the BYU Cougars, third place overall in the Mountain West Conference. This bowl game was played on December...
by the score of 31–21. - In 2009, the Wildcats compiled their second straight eight-win season and earned another bowl birth. Arizona played Nebraska2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football teamThe 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cornhuskers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska and were led by head coach Bo Pelini...
in the Holiday Bowl2009 Holiday BowlThe 2009 Holiday Bowl was the thirty-second edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5:00 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 30, 2009. The game was telecast on ESPN. The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Arizona...
, but lost 33–0. - In 2010, the Wildcats defeated #9 Iowa2010 Iowa Hawkeyes football teamThe 2010 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2010 college football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 12th year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.Iowa came off of a 11–2...
, 34–27, in Tucson. - In 2011, after a 1-5 start, he was fired by the University of Arizona.
On the hot seat
After going 6–6 in 2006, the Wildcats lost three of their first four games in 2007, including a 29–27 loss at home to New Mexico2007 New Mexico Lobos football team
The 2007 New Mexico Lobos football team represented The University of New Mexico in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team was coached by Rocky Long...
. In that game, Stoops gained a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his behavior on the sideline, which led to a New Mexico touchdown.
Following a 2007, 21–20 home loss to Stanford
2007 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2007 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the college football season of 2007–2008. In Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's inaugural season at Stanford, the 41-point underdog Cardinal pulled off the greatest point-spread upset in college football history by defeating the #1...
, dropping the team to 2–6, local media began speculating as to whether Stoops would be fired. However, subsequent statements by the athletic director and the university's president indicated that Stoops would return for an additional season.
However, since that time, Mike Stoops has led the Arizona Wildcats to three consecutive Bowl Games and winning seasons.
2008 season
At the beginning of the season, many believed this to be the year Stoops and the Wildcats would reach their first college bowl game in a decade; a winning season was considered a must in order for Stoops to remain as Wildcats head coach. Under the direction of Stoops, Arizona scored 70 points in the season opener against the Idaho Vandals2008 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2008 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in NCAA Division I FBS college football during the 2008 season. Idaho competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome...
, falling just four points short of a school record for points scored in a game. They went on to soundly defeat Toledo
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
, UCLA
2008 UCLA Bruins football team
The UCLA Bruins football team opened the 2008 campaign by playing its first game at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Bruins played six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings,...
, Washington
2008 UCLA Bruins football team
The UCLA Bruins football team opened the 2008 campaign by playing its first game at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Bruins played six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings,...
, and California
2008 California Golden Bears football team
The 2008 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2008-2009 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and are coached by Jeff Tedford...
, but lost close games to New Mexico
2008 New Mexico Lobos football team
The 2008 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. New Mexico competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference , and played their home games...
and Stanford
2008 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2008 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach was Jim Harbaugh, who entered his second year at Stanford. The team played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California and competed in the...
.
They went on to defeat Washington State
2008 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2008 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington...
on the road to secure bowl eligibility at six wins, but lost to Oregon
2008 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2008. This was the final season for Mike Bellotti as the Ducks' head coach; he was promoted to become the school's athletic director after the season. The Ducks played their home games at...
on the road after mounting a dramatic second-half come-from-behind rally, and to Oregon State
2008 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2008 Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach is Mike Riley...
in Tucson on a last-second field goal. The Wildcats' final game of the regular season was a 31–10 victory on December 6 in Tucson against Arizona State
2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. It plays its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona....
in the annual Territorial Cup
Territorial Cup
The Territorial Cup is a trophy that is awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game, commonly referred to as "The Duel in the Desert," played annually between the Arizona State Sun Devils football team of Arizona State University and the Arizona Wildcats football team of the...
rivalry game. With that win and a final regular season record of 7–5, Arizona accepted a bid from to the Las Vegas Bowl
2008 Las Vegas Bowl
The 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl was an NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS post-season college football bowl game between the Arizona Wildcats, the fifth pick from the Pacific 10 Conference and the BYU Cougars, third place overall in the Mountain West Conference. This bowl game was played on December...
to face BYU
2008 BYU Cougars football team
The 2008 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2008 college football season.Prior to the 2008 season, BYU had won consecutive Mountain West Conference championship titles without losing a conference game. It had also finished with an 11-2 overall record for...
. It was the Wildcats' first bowl appearance since the 1998 Holiday Bowl
1998 Holiday Bowl
The 1998 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1998 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Arizona Wildcats, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers....
.
Stoops' reputation in Tucson was mixed; while the Wildcats had a winning record and appeared in and won their first bowl game in ten years, many fans were divided during the season on whether he should be retained as head coach, as they expected Stoops to guide the team to an eight, nine or even ten-win season given the talent level and the offensive and defensive systems employed by the Wildcats (and with the overall talent level in the Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
conference perceived to be not as strong as usual in 2008). While Stoops brought the Wildcat football program to a level of respectability which was lost during the era of John Mackovic
John Mackovic
John Mackovic is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of United States national American football team, which was formed to compete in the American Football World Cup...
, some fans were disappointed the program was not at the elite level of Stoops' former program Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
or of perennial Pac-10 football power USC
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
. However, Stoops was given strong votes of confidence by UA (later UNLV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
) athletic director Jim Livengood, by university president Dr. Robert Shelton, and by several prominent Arizona football boosters.
On December 18, Stoops was rumored to be a candidate for the Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
head coaching job, which eventually went to Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
assistant Paul Rhoads
Paul Rhoads
Paul Rhoads is an American college football head coach at Iowa State University. Rhoads was formerly the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Auburn University football team before then-head coach Tommy Tuberville was forced to resign at the 2008 season's end...
. On December 20, Arizona defeated BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. On December 23, Stoops was given a contract extension through the 2013 season by Livengood.
"We're very pleased with the progress of Arizona football under Mike's direction," Livengood said. "His personal growth as a coach has been outstanding and we’re glad to continue moving forward with him as the steward for Arizona football."
Stoops said on the news of his extension, "I'm very excited about the extension...The administration always has shown a commitment to what we’re doing, and this bolsters that support...We’re working hard to build stability and the commitment from Jim and the university at this time will go a long way to solidify that effort. I’m happy to be here in Tucson for a long time as head coach of our Wildcats. This is where my family wants to be."
2009 season
The Wildcats compiled a 8–4 (6–3) record in the 2009 regular season, which earned them a share of second place in the Pac-10 and a bid to the Holiday Bowl2009 Holiday Bowl
The 2009 Holiday Bowl was the thirty-second edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5:00 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 30, 2009. The game was telecast on ESPN. The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Arizona...
. Stoops was named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award
George Munger Award
The George Munger Award was presented to the NCAA Division I college football coach of the year by the Maxwell Football Club from 1989 to 2009. The award was named after former University of Pennsylvania head coach George Munger...
, but was not named a finalist.
2010 season
The Wildcats compiled a 7–5 (4–5) record in the 2010 regular season, which earned them a seventh place finish in the Pac-10 and a bid to the Alamo Bowl2010 Alamo Bowl (December)
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl game was the 18th edition of the annual college football bowl game known previously as the Alamo Bowl. It was played on December 29, 2010 between the Arizona Wildcats and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. ESPN television broadcasted the game with Valero as the title sponsor...
. This bid was due, in part, to only four Pac-10 teams being bowl eligible after USC
2010 USC Trojans football team
The 2010 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Trojans were led by head coach Lane Kiffin, who was in his 1st season...
was sanctioned from bowl eligibility, and Arizona State
2010 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2010 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were led by head coach Dennis Erickson in his 4th season. They played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium and are members of the Pacific-10...
was denied a bowl waiver from the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
, which it needed because two of ASU's wins came against FCS teams. Both USC and Arizona State finished higher than Arizona in the Pac-10 standings. Oregon
2010 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year....
and Stanford
2010 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2010 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Cardinal were led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was in his 4th and final season before leaving to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers...
were selected for BCS bowls, and the Rose Bowl
2011 Rose Bowl
The 2011 Rose Bowl was the 97th edition of the annual bowl game played on January 1, 2011, as part of the 2010 college football season. Played in Pasadena, California, the TCU Horned Frogs of the Mountain West Conference defeated the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. The Pasadena...
selected an at large team, TCU
2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by tenth year head coach Gary Patterson and played its home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas...
, to pair with the Big Ten champion, Wisconsin
2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium...
, leaving the second highest Pac-10 affiliated bowl game, the Alamo Bowl, to choose between Arizona and Washington.
2011 season
The Wildcats started the 2011 season losing five of their six games, and their first four games in the newly-expanded Pac-12 Conference. After a loss on the road to previously-winless Oregon StateOregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
, Stoops was relieved of his duties on Oct 10, 2011 (with the announcement made by athletic director Greg Byrne
Gregory Byrne
Greg Byrne is the athletic director at the University of Arizona. Prior to this appointment, Byrne was the athletic director at Mississippi State University from 2008-2010 after serving as associate athletic director for the preceding two years...
, who replaced Jim Livengood in 2010). Co-defensive coordinator Tim Kish
Tim Kish
-External links:*...
was named as interim head coach. Stoops will get a $1.4 million buyout from Arizona.