With the school soccer common season coming to an in depth, the Texas A&M teaching search is coming into focus. And as all of us anticipated, it is a rollercoaster discovering the following Aggies soccer coach. Though it appeared on Saturday that Texas A&M was prepared to maneuver ahead with its high goal, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, with an announcement imminent, Stoops as an alternative confirmed through social media in a single day that he might be staying with the Wildcats. 

“I know there’s been much speculation about me and my job situation the last couple of days,” Stoops tweeted. “It’s true I was contacted about a potential opportunity this weekend, but after celebrating a big win against our rivals with players I love like family, I knew in my heart I couldn’t leave the University of Kentucky right now. I have a great job at a place I love, and I get to work with the best administration and greatest fan base in college football right where I’m at. I’m excited to say I’m a Wildcat!”

Stoops, 56, took over a moribund Kentucky workforce in 2013, finally guiding the Wildcats to a bowl recreation look in his fourth season. Since 2018, Stoops has quietly remodeled into one of many high coaches within the SEC. He has a 47-28 report over the previous six years with 4 bowl wins over the previous 5 seasons. Kentucky has gained 10 video games twice over that interval, which matches the identical quantity that Texas A&M has since 1998. Prior to Stoops’s arrival, the Wildcats had not gained 10 video games since 1977. 

For a time on Saturday, it appeared possible he was ready to tackle a a lot bigger SEC problem in making an attempt to steer Texas A&M to prominence. That’s not the case anymore, nonetheless, as a continued run with Kentucky is within the playing cards. 

Texas A&M is aiming to interchange Jimbo Fisher, who was fired after six seasons with the Aggies. Fisher was hailed as a savior when he was employed away from Florida State; the college gifted Fisher a clean nationwide championship plaque to set the expectation of his tenure. After a lackluster 6-4 begin to the 2023 season, nonetheless, Texas A&M brass had determined it was time for the wedding to finish. Fisher is owed greater than $70 million in buyout funds, tripling the next-highest buyout in college football historical past. 

The Aggies quest to discover a new coach comes amid a vital time for this system. The Aggies reeled within the No. 1 recruiting class of all time in 2022 and the lion’s share might be juniors in 2024. Texas A&M ranks No. 4 within the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, trailing solely Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. Keeping the roster collectively and maximizing the 2024 season might be high of thoughts for any coach that takes the reins in College Station, Texas.