HEADLINE

Reports: Florida Atlantic hiring Mike Stoops as DC

Field Level Media

January 28, 2021 at 6:13 pm.

Florida Atlantic is expected to hire former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops as defensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

Stoops, 59, spent the last two seasons as an analyst at Alabama.

He compiled a 41-50 in seven-plus seasons at Arizona (2004-11), leading the Wildcats to three bowl appearances.

Stoops has been a defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator in the Big 12 at Oklahoma (1999-2003, 2012-18) and Kansas State (1996-98).

At Florida Atlantic, Stoops would replace Jim Leavitt, who left Wednesday to become the defensive coordinator at SMU.

The Owls were 5-4 last season under first-year head coach Willie Taggart.

Stoops is the brother of Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops and longtime Sooners coach Bob Stoops.