?* Coached safety Darrell Brooks to first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors and Ronnie Lott Trophy semi-final status in 2005, and positioned the graduate for strong consideration in the 2006 NFL draft.
?* Developed freshmen cornerbacks into 11-game starters who each earned post-season honors for their play at UA in 2004, then ramped up their play with every snap in the 2005 season. Antoine Cason
earned second-team All-Pac-10 citation and is poised for a final two years of note, along with Wilrey Fontenot.
?* Safety Michael Johnson earned Pac-10 and national player of the week honors after his three interception game in UA victory at Oregon State in 2005 -- a game in which Stoops’ entire unit recorded an interception with Brooks, Cason and Fontenot joining in.
?* Pass-oriented Pac-10 teams averaged only 225 yards through the air against Arizona in 2005, the second-best figure in the league.
?* Helped develop cornerback Antrel Rolle, a 2005 first-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals.
?* Helped develop safety Sean Taylor, a 2004 first-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins, and seventh-round pick, cornerback Alfonso Marshall by the Chicago Bears.
?* The 2003 Miami defense with Stoops on staff finished first in Division I-A in pass defense, second in total defense, fourth in scoring defense and fourth in pass efficiency defense.
?* Coached junior safety Sean Taylor, the nation’s leader with 10 interceptions in 12 games, who spearheaded a unit that had 21 total to rate sixth nationally. The 2003 ?'Canes rated 14th nationally with 31 turnovers gained.
?* Miami won four consecutive Big East championships with Stoops on staff and finished 11-2 with a victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl, for a final No. 5 ranking in the polls in 2003.
?* Stoops’ 2002 Miami secondary led NCAA Division I-A in passing defense, allowing only 119.7 yards per game, and led the nation in pass efficiency defense with a sparkling 83.91 rating after four new starters replaced the top-five players from the previous season. The 2002 UM secondary tied an NCAA record by allowing only 9.5 yards per completion.
?* Helped develop defensive backs Phillip Buchanon, Edward Reed and Mike Rumph, all taken in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft ?- the first time three DBs from the same school were drafted in the top round.
?* Stoops’ 2001 secondary spearheaded a defense that helped the Hurricanes win their fifth national championship. Miami led the nation in scoring defense, pass efficiency defense and turnover margin. The hurricanes set a school record with 27 interceptions for a unit with 45 takeaways.
?* Stoops coached consensus All-Americans in Miami safety Edward Reed (2001) and Wyoming free safety Brian Lee (1997), and Miami cornerback Phillip Buchanon (2001) was named an All-American by ABC Sports as a punt returner.
?* His 1998 Wyoming secondary helped the Cowboys’ defense rate 28th nationally in scoring defense. One of his charges, Trent Gamble, signed an NFL free agent deal in 2000 and played four years in the league. Stoops’ 1997 Wyoming secondary is considered one of the best in school history, ranking sixth nationally in pass defense and intercepting a school-record 24 passes.
?* Stoops played on four Iowa teams that played in bowl games, and he attended bowl games while his brother, Mike, was a graduate or volunteer assistant on Hayden Fry’s staff ?- the 1986 Rose, 1986 Holiday, 1987 Holiday and 1988 Peach Bowls.
