The SEC’s coaching rotation isn’t over yet, as Kentucky fired head coach Mark Stoops on Monday after 13 seasons.
Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky, LSU and Mississippi State will all have new head coaches next season. Stoops’ departure also means Georgia’s Kirby Smart is now the longest-tenured head coach in the SEC.
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“It’s hard to maintain everything and be consistent, especially in this very competitive league,” Smart said during his weekly media availability Monday. “I don’t think too much about tenured professors or the third person with the longest tenure. I have a lot of respect for Mark and he’s a good friend.”
The most notable coaching change occurred on Sunday. Lane Kiffin finally made a dramatic exit from the University of Mississippi and accepted the LSU job he had been considering for weeks. LSU officially introduced him Monday.
Before Smart took over the Georgia program, he worked with Kiffin on Nick Saban’s coaching staff at Alabama. He said he doesn’t envy Kiffin’s position and agrees with their mentor.
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“I think it’s a very difficult situation to navigate,” Smart said. “I think you know, Coach Saban addressed it best… The time frame we’re in is AD and people making decisions in a schedule that doesn’t line up with the season and the playoffs.”
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While Kiffin dealt with the aftermath of the move from Oxford to Baton Rouge, Smart’s focus was on Atlanta. The Bulldogs will play in their fifth straight SEC championship game on Saturday and look to avenge their previous loss to Alabama.
Kick-off from Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for 4pm and the game will be broadcast live on Channel 2.
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