Shortly after news broke that Mark Stoops was out as Kentucky football head coach, it was reported that his buyout was being adjusted.

Records obtained by the Kentucky Kernel now have those details.

One of the biggest believe hold-ups of why Kentucky could have trouble firing Stoops at the time it did or earlier was because of his buyout.

Initially, Stoops was to be owed the full $38,687,500 in 60 days following termination.

However, Stoops has now agreed to an amended buyout that will pay that full amount over multiple years.

The first payment within 15 days of the Dec. 1, 2025 separation is $3,937,500.

After that payment, Stoops will be paid $6,750,000 yearly over four quarterly payments with the final payment set for April 1, 2031.

Another key part to these payments is that they are not subject to mitigation, so even if Stoops gets another job, UK is still on the hook for the full amount.

Stoops began his tenure as Kentucky head coach in 2012 and was the longest tenured head coach in the SEC at the time of his firing.

“He was great on Sunday, spectacular, he’s a good man, and he has a lot of love for this program and this city,” Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said. “Don’t ever walk out of here thinking that I don’t have unbelievable respect for Mark Stoops and what he did here and we all need to be thankful for what he did. He did change the expectations what we’re doing here.”

The now former head coach did Kentucky a favor on his way out of the door as Will Stein is the new head coach of Kentucky football.