Kentucky football just earned itself some serious offseason bragging rights.
In a whirlwind coaching carousel that’s seen some of the biggest names in college football switch zip codes, Kentucky’s decision to bring in Will Stein as its next head coach is drawing high marks - and not just from the Wildcat faithful. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg gave the hire an A-, placing it among the top-rated moves of this chaotic coaching cycle.
To put that in perspective, Michigan - fresh off hiring longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to replace Sherrone Moore - landed a B+ from the same evaluation. That’s a solid grade for a blue-blood program making a high-profile move.
But Kentucky? They edged that out.
So why the optimism around Stein?
For starters, the guy’s stock is rising fast. He’s still calling plays for Oregon as the Ducks make their push through the College Football Playoff, and his fingerprints are all over one of the most explosive offenses in the country. But what really caught Rittenberg’s attention wasn’t just Stein’s résumé - it was his fit in Lexington.
“Kentucky needed a coach who wanted to be there,” Rittenberg wrote, and Stein checks that box emphatically. According to the report, Stein had his eye on the Kentucky job even before it opened, and that kind of genuine interest matters. It’s not just about finding the best name available - it’s about finding someone who understands the program, embraces the challenge, and has a vision for what comes next.
That vision? A revitalized, high-octane offense.
Let’s be honest: the Wildcats have been stuck in neutral offensively in recent years, cycling through coordinators and struggling to find consistency under Mark Stoops. Stein brings a fresh identity - one built on tempo, creativity, and points.
He’s got a clear plan to bring excitement back to the field, and he’s not walking in blind. There’s already a connection to the program, a familiarity that should help smooth the transition.
Of course, there’s one caveat: Stein hasn’t been a head coach before. That’s the only thing keeping this hire from being a straight-A move in Rittenberg’s eyes. But even with that inexperience, the belief is that if he surrounds himself with the right staff, he’s got the tools to elevate Kentucky - even in the cutthroat world of SEC football.
Out of the 16 coaching hires evaluated, only seven received an A- or better. Stein’s in that elite group. Only Collin Klein at Kansas State and James Franklin at Virginia Tech earned full A grades, making Kentucky’s move one of the most well-regarded of the offseason.
Also worth noting: Florida’s hire of Jon Sumrall came in with a B+, another solid move in the SEC, but still a tick below what Kentucky pulled off.
In a coaching cycle full of splashy hires and big-name moves, Kentucky didn’t just make noise - they made one of the smartest plays on the board. If Stein delivers on the promise of his offensive pedigree and builds a strong foundation around him, the Wildcats could be poised to make some serious noise in the SEC sooner than people expect.