It didn’t take long for Kentucky to land its next head coach-just about 24 hours, in fact. Will Stein was the guy, and the hiring process was as direct as it gets.
But when it comes to assembling a coaching staff, things rarely move that quickly or cleanly. A month later, Stein’s staff is starting to take shape, and while some pieces are locked in, others are still shifting behind the scenes.
Parker Fleming Joins as Analyst, Not Full-Time Assistant
On Sunday morning, Parker Fleming was reported to be joining Kentucky’s staff as special teams coordinator and inside wide receivers coach. That phrasing led many to believe he’d be one of the ten full-time assistant coaches. But that’s not the case.
Sources indicate that Fleming will be part of a growing analyst group, not one of the ten on-field assistants. That distinction is important. It gives Stein flexibility to add another full-time recruiter to his staff-something that matters a lot in today’s college football landscape.
Analysts Are the New Secret Weapon
Over the past decade, the arms race in college football has shifted. It’s no longer just about who has the flashiest locker rooms or biggest weight rooms.
Now, it’s about who can build the deepest, most specialized coaching staff. That’s where analysts come in.
Once relegated to “quality control” roles, these analysts have become essential extensions of the coaching staff. And with the NCAA lifting restrictions ahead of the 2024 season, analysts can now provide hands-on instruction during practices and games.
The only thing they still can’t do? Recruit off-campus.
In essence, analysts have become assistants to the assistants. And Will Stein is clearly leaning into that model.
At Oregon, where Stein spent much of his recent coaching career, the Ducks routinely had multiple coaches working with each position group. For example, the offensive line had a lead coach, a primary recruiter, and two assistants. That kind of depth allows for more individualized instruction and a more refined approach across the board.
One of those Oregon assistants-Cutter Leftwich-is now Kentucky’s offensive line coach. And early signs suggest Stein is building a similarly deep bench in Lexington.
Analysts Expected to Join Stein’s Staff at Kentucky
Here’s a look at the analysts currently expected to be part of Stein’s inaugural staff:
Parker Fleming - Special Teams / Inside Wide Receivers
Fleming brings experience from both Ohio State and Oregon.
He spent several years in Columbus, eventually getting promoted to full-time special teams coordinator. He followed that up with a stint in Eugene, and now he’s expected to handle special teams and inside receivers in an analyst capacity at Kentucky.
Justin Burke - Passing Game / Tight Ends (Expected)
A former quarterback at Lexington Catholic and Louisville, Burke was the first name linked to Stein’s staff.
Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator at UTSA, where he also coached tight ends. While it was initially unclear whether he’d be a full-time assistant, it now appears he’ll serve as an analyst.
Derek Warehime - Run Game
Warehime will likely assist Leftwich with the offensive line.
He’s been around the block, coaching OL at Coastal Carolina the past three seasons and previously serving as offensive coordinator at New Mexico. He and Stein crossed paths at Texas, where Warehime coached multiple offensive positions.
Ty Holder - Cornerbacks
Holder is expected to work as an assistant defensive backs coach.
He played cornerback at Ball State before brief pro stints in the XFL and AAF. Since then, he’s built coaching experience as a GA at North Carolina and Auburn, and most recently coached corners at Gardner-Webb.
Trey Odom - Safeties
Odom is set to reunite with new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. He previously worked as a GA at Texas A&M and coached safeties at Oklahoma Baptist at the Division II level.
James Gibson - Nickels
Another Bateman disciple, Gibson was an analyst at Texas A&M for two seasons. He also played under Bateman at Army, so there’s a strong familiarity between the two.
Jack Ray - Special Teams (Unconfirmed)
Ray worked with Kentucky’s kickers and snappers during the 2025 season. While nothing is confirmed yet, there’s talk that he may be retained in some capacity.
This list is still evolving, and it’s safe to assume more names will emerge as Stein finalizes his staff ahead of spring practice. But what’s already clear is that Kentucky is investing in a deep, specialized support system-one that mirrors the model Stein saw succeed at Oregon.
Stein’s Full-Time Position Coaches for 2026
While the analyst group is impressive, here’s the current lineup of full-time position coaches who’ll be on the field for Kentucky in 2026:
- Joe Sloan - Offensive Coordinator
- Jay Bateman - Defensive Coordinator
- Cutter Leftwich - Offensive Line
- Kolby Smith - Running Backs
- Joe Price III - Wide Receivers
- Josh Christian-Young - Safeties
- Anwar Stewart - Defensive Line
- **Tony Washington Jr.
** - Pass Rushers
- Allen Brown - Cornerbacks
That leaves room for one more full-time assistant, thanks to Fleming’s analyst designation. Expect that spot to go to someone with strong recruiting chops-another sign that Stein is building his program with both strategy and long-term vision in mind.
The bottom line: Kentucky’s coaching infrastructure under Will Stein is already looking deep, modern, and well-resourced. And with spring ball just around the corner, the Wildcats are laying the kind of foundation that could pay off in a big way.