Despite hearing overtures from several teams around the country, Mark Stoops has decided to remain with the Florida St. Seminoles as their defensive coordinator, according to Coley Harvey of the Orlando Sentinel.
The Kansas Jayhawks, Pittsburgh Panthers, and Texas A&M Aggies were rumored to have approached stoops about their vacancies, but as Harvey notes, no potential suitor for Stoops created more drama than the Auburn Tigers. "[U]niversity planes were tracked to Tallahassee," Harvey says, "and Alabama radio shows and message boards had him all but signed to join the Tigers’ staff." Nonetheless, Stoops has elected to remain with Florida State for another season.
This news bodes well for the Seminoles, which ranked No. 4 among FBS schools in scoring defense, yielding just 15.2 points per game. It also bodes well for Stoops, as Harvey believes the defensive coordinator could be in for a significant pay raise.
Another benefit of Stoops' decision to stay is that it means Florida State's "entire coaching staff will return," as Harvey notes. "There won’t be any turnover or transitions to go through."
Florida State's 2011 season concludes next Thursday, Dec. 29, when it takes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Champs Sports Bowl.
For more on the Seminoles, please visit Tomahawk Nation, SB Nation's Florida State blog.