Contract details Stoops’ buyout
NORMAN — Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops will be paid monthly installments of $24,917 until Jan. 31, 2020, according to his contract obtained by The Oklahoman. The buyout number is equal to his annual base salary plus $2,000 per month for health care and other expenses.
Stoops was fired without cause Monday. He signed a new contract on Feb. 1 that would’ve carried him through the 2019 season.
Stoops had a base annual salary of $275,000, but it was only a slice of his compensation. His total annual salary was $950,000 — a number that combines base salary, an annual stay benefit, personal services and appearances on behalf of the university.
Stoops had built-in incentives for OU participating in and winning the Big 12 championship along with postseason bowl and college football playoff incentives.
Per his contract: “The university agrees to pay (Stoops) an amount equal to one month of (Stoops’) then current monthly base salary to be paid monthly from the date of termination through the remainder of the agreement term. The amount shall be prorated and paid over a period of time equal to the numbers of months remaining on the agreement term in monthly installments during this period of time.
Additionally, the university shall pay to coach $2,000 per month from the date of termination through the remainder of the agreement term as an amount consistent toward continuing health care and other expenses.”
Stoops spent two stints at Oklahoma. He joined his brother Bob on OU’s staff in 1999, where he worked through 2003 as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
Stoops was Arizona’s head coach from 2004-11.
He returned to Norman in 2012 as defensive coordinator.
He was fired Monday morning, two days after OU gave up 48 points to Texas.
Stoops brother weighs in
Mark Stoops, following his brother Mike's dismissal Monday, is the last of the Stoops brothers still coaching at the FBS level.
Mark Stoops' Kentucky Wildcats are 5-1 and ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll. He was asked Wednesday on the SEC teleconference about his brother being let go from OU.
"It's a very unfortunate situation," Mark Stoops said. "I feel for Mike."
Mark said he talks to Mike almost every day. Mark worked as Mike's defensive coordinator at Arizona from 2004-09.
"Mike's done a great job and been part of a lot of championships," Mark Stoops said. "He'll be just fine. If you know anything about Mike, he always handles things like a man and accepts responsibility. He'll land on his feet and be just fine."
Mark Stoops is in his sixth season as Kentucky's head coach.
On Wednesday, Mike mentioned the possibility of working as an understudy to Alabama's Nick Saban or Georgia's Kirby Smart.
"Somebody of that magnitude and trying to rethink, relearn, reteach," Mike Stoops said.
McNeill will stay upstairs
The logistical transition for Ruffin McNeill replacing Stoops as Oklahoma's defensive coordinator should be a smooth one.
McNeill, as Stoops did, will call OU's defense from the press box. McNeill has been in the press box every game this season after being on the field last year.
"I'll stay up and still call from up, with as little transition as possible on the field," McNeill said earlier this week. "We're still going through that, and we'll have a run through with that on the field with phones."
The other ripple from Lincoln Riley's decision to fire Stoops is Bob Diaco being promoted from defensive analyst to outside linebackers coach — the position Stoops manned.
Diaco has held an off-thefield role this season with limited interaction with players. That changed this week in practice.
"I love Bob on the field with his enthusiasm," McNeill said. "I can handle upstairs."