Kentucky is making a bold move in the post-Mark Stoops era, zeroing in on Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as its next head football coach. The deal is reportedly nearing completion, and if finalized, it marks a major shift in Lexington-one that brings youth, offensive firepower, and a fresh identity to a program looking to hit reset.
Stoops leaves behind a complicated but undeniably impactful legacy. Over 13 seasons, he became the winningest coach in school history with an 82-80 record, steering the Wildcats through some of their most competitive years in recent memory.
But a 5-7 finish this season proved to be the tipping point. For a program that had tasted consistent bowl appearances and big-time SEC wins under Stoops, it wasn’t enough.
Enter Will Stein. At 36, he’s one of the rising minds in college football, and now he’s stepping into his first head coaching role with a chance to reshape Kentucky football from the ground up.
His résumé may be short on head coaching experience, but it’s packed with offensive success. Stein has spent the last three years in Eugene as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, helping engineer one of the most dynamic units in the country under head coach Dan Lanning.
This season, Oregon surged to an 11-1 record and a No. 6 national ranking, putting them in position for a College Football Playoff berth. Stein’s offense has been a major reason why.
The Ducks have been electric-fast-paced, efficient, and explosive. And according to reports, Stein will continue calling plays for Oregon through the playoff run, balancing both roles until the Ducks’ season wraps up.
That dual responsibility speaks volumes about how highly Oregon values his presence-and how eager Kentucky is to get him in the building. It’s not every day that a Power Five program hands the keys to someone this young, but Stein’s trajectory has been building toward this moment. Before Oregon, he held key roles at UTSA, Texas, and Louisville, steadily climbing the coaching ladder and earning a reputation as a sharp, innovative play-caller with strong recruiting chops.
There’s also a personal connection here. Stein has family ties to the Wildcats program, which adds another layer to his arrival in Lexington.
But make no mistake-this hire is about football. Kentucky is betting on upside, on offensive evolution, and on a coach who’s already shown he can hang with the best in the country.
Confirming via sources that Oregon OC Will Stein is headed toward being the hire at Kentucky. As noted in the Dash below, Stein was a Cardinal but his dad was a Wildcat and that was a very enthusiastic UK family during his youth. https://t.co/10w6dIPUPF
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 2, 2025
The SEC is a gauntlet, and Stein will have his work cut out for him. But if he can bring even a fraction of Oregon’s offensive magic to the Bluegrass, Kentucky fans might soon find themselves watching a very different brand of football on Saturdays. One that’s fast, fearless, and ready to turn the page.