Mike Stoops Fired: Report Says Arizona Wildcats Will Part Ways with Fiery Coach

The Arizona Wildcats have endured the malaise for long enough it seems. Mike Stoops and the University will part ways after what has been a mixed bag of results. 

TucsonCitizen.com cited two sources close to the program that alleged Mike Stoops would be let go of his duties as head coach of the Arizona Wildcats. 

The Wildcats had hoped Stoops would come in and bring some fashion of a consistent effort from the program. There was hope the passionate coach could light a fire in his athletes every season. 

That has not been that case as his message has become far more stale than empowered. The Wildcats are at 1-5 on the season. About the same amount of production as the 1-6 squad coached by Mike Hankwitz in 2003. 

Hankwitz took over for John Mankovic, who began that season at a 1-4 pace. With the Pac-12 growth, the possibility of being left in the cellar year after year is far too great. 

The Wildcats have regressed since back-to-back eight win seasons in 2008 and 2009. There is a time when programs grow stale, and that seemed to be taking place at Arizona. 

The report states that Defensive Coordinator Tim Kish is expected to be named interim coach. The move is sure to divide the Wildcats faithful. Half believe that Stoops' sideline antics and fiery personality are costing the team games. 

The other half will view the loss of Stoops as a loss of heart and vital motivation that moves the athletes forward. Regardless of the sentiment, the results cannot be argued. 

The Wildcats have lost their will to defend, allowing 37.5 points per game—good for 117th in the nation. A coach with such fiery dialogue should invigorate his players. To start the years, Arizona has been far more listless than anything. 

Stoops time has come, and it has nothing to do with his dedication, but rather his message. It just doesn't carry the same weight it used to.