Tennessee Football: What Mark Stoops said about working with Josh Heupel
When the Tennessee Vols take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, there will be a familiar face across the sideline for UT head coach Josh Heupel. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is the brother of Bob Stoops, Heupel's coach as a player at Oklahoma and later his boss. Bob famously fired Heupel […]
When the Tennessee Vols take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, there will be a familiar face across the sideline for UT head coach Josh Heupel.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is the brother of Bob Stoops, Heupel's coach as a player at Oklahoma and later his boss.
Bob famously fired Heupel as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator after the 2014 season despite the offense playing well that season.
Heupel's connection to Bob, however, isn't why Mark is so familiar.
Mark Stoops and Heupel worked together for a year at Arizona (in 2005) under Mike Stoops, yet another member of the Stoops family.
Heupel was the tight ends coach at Arizona in 2005 while Mark Stoops served as the Wildcats' defensive coordinator.
On Monday, Stoops was asked about working with Heupel.
"I got to know Josh through the years," said Stoops on Monday. "He worked for both my brothers. I don't remember the exact year [that] we worked together at Arizona. I think he was working for Oklahoma, obviously played for Oklahoma — great quarterback there and won the national championship. And then Mike hired him as one of his early jobs and he did a great job for us. I think it was just one quick year and then he went back to work at Oklahoma."
Stoops was then asked if he was surprised that Heupel has found success so quickly at Tennessee.
"You have to give him credit for how fast he turned it," said Stoops. "It's (Tennessee) always been a quality program with great players. But Josh has done a remarkable job. And you have to give him credit for what he's done and the success he's had both at UCF and Tennessee. And to some extent, no it doesn't surprise you. Josh has always been a winner."
It's clear that Stoops has a lot of respect for Heupel. And despite the fact that Heupel was fired by his brother, I'm sure that respect extends both ways.
Featured image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
