Kentucky Football’s Coaching Overhaul Signals a New Era Under Will Stein
Will Stein is wasting no time putting his stamp on Kentucky football. As the Wildcats’ new head coach rounds out his first staff in Lexington, the hires made over Christmas week paint a clear picture: this isn’t business as usual. It’s a full-on reimagining of how a college football program operates in the modern era.
Let’s break it down.
A New-Look Staff, Built for Today’s Game
Kentucky has officially announced the additions of Joe Sloan as offensive coordinator and Jay Bateman as defensive coordinator. Cutter Leftwich will lead the offensive line, Josh Christian-Young takes over the safeties, Joe Price is in charge of wide receivers, and Anwar Stewart returns to coach the defensive line. While not yet formally announced, multiple reports have Tony Washington (edge rushers) and Kolby Smith (running backs) joining the staff as well.
That’s nine of the 10 traditional assistant coaching roles filled. But Stein isn’t stopping there - not even close.
He’s bringing in a wave of additional coaches in key support roles, many with on-field experience and resumes that suggest they’re more than just behind-the-scenes analysts. Among them is Justin Burke, a Lexington native and former UTSA offensive coordinator, now set to serve as an offensive assistant.
Derek Warehime, who coached the offensive line at Coastal Carolina, has updated his bio to reflect his new role as Kentucky’s run game coordinator. And Parker Fleming, formerly Ohio State’s special teams coordinator and most recently an analyst at Oregon, is reportedly set to handle special teams and inside receivers.
On the defensive side, James Gibson - a former Texas A&M analyst - now lists himself as Kentucky’s defensive backs coach, while Trey Odom, another A&M alum, identifies as the assistant defensive backs coach. Expect more names to follow in similar roles.
So how is Stein adding this many coaches when NCAA rules used to cap staffs at 10 full-time assistants?
The NCAA Rule Change That Changed Everything
This is where things get interesting - and where Kentucky is leaning into a rule change that’s reshaping college football.
Back in June 2024, the NCAA lifted the cap on how many coaches can provide “technical and tactical instruction” to players. Previously, only 10 full-time assistants (plus the head coach) were allowed to coach during practices or games. Everyone else - analysts, quality control coaches, support staff - were restricted to off-field duties like film study and game-planning.
But let’s be honest: many programs were already blurring those lines. The NCAA simply caught up to reality.
Now, the only limitation is on off-campus recruiting. Programs are allowed 11 recruiters (head coach included) to travel for visits.
But when it comes to coaching on the field and hosting recruits during campus visits? It’s all hands on deck.
As former Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White put it, the impact is “tangible.” You can feel the difference when you have more experienced coaches working directly with players during practice.
Oregon’s Blueprint Comes to Lexington
Stein isn’t just hiring more bodies - he’s following a model he saw up close during his time at Oregon. The Ducks have been aggressive in using this new flexibility, listing multiple coaches as analysts while assigning others to specific position groups like edge rushers, cornerbacks, and even assistant quarterbacks coach - all without those coaches being part of the 11 off-campus recruiters.
Leftwich, for example, held the title of assistant offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Oregon. Now he brings that same dual-role experience to Kentucky.
And it’s not just about titles. It’s about maximizing value.
With only two of Kentucky’s 10 recruiting assistants expected to be 50 or older next season, the program is likely spending less in total salary than it did under Mark Stoops, whose 10 assistants combined for $7.39 million in 2024. That leaves more room to pay high-quality support staff - guys who in the past might’ve been overqualified for analyst roles but are now key contributors in practice and game prep.
The philosophy is simple: everyone coaches, everyone recruits (on campus), everyone gets paid.
Kentucky’s Front Office Is Growing, Too
This isn’t just about the sideline. Kentucky’s football “front office” is expanding as well.
Pat Biondo is on board as general manager, with Pete Nochta as assistant GM. Their focus?
Revenue sharing and NIL deals - both for current players and incoming recruits.
That’s a major shift from the Stoops era, when Eddie Gran held a special assistant title and director of recruiting Chase Heuke carried the GM label. Now, the roles are more defined - and more critical - as NIL and roster management become central to any program’s success.
Timing Is Everything
This overhaul isn’t just about long-term vision - it’s about being ready right now.
With Oregon still alive in the playoff, Stein and Leftwich could be splitting time between two programs. Meanwhile, the transfer portal opens Friday, and Kentucky needs boots on the ground in Lexington to host visits before the spring semester kicks off. The more qualified coaches on hand, the better the Wildcats can navigate this crucial stretch.
Stein’s Message: Adapt or Fall Behind
At his introductory press conference, Stein didn’t mince words about the state of college football.
“To me the best trait of a college football coach now is adaptability,” he said. “We got to adapt.
If you all are still saying, ‘I wish it was like the old days,’ it ain’t the olden days. It’s not.
Get that out of your mind. Let’s push forward.
Let’s move forward in this process.”
That mindset is already shaping Kentucky’s identity under Stein. This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about building a program equipped for 2025 and beyond - one that’s nimble, modern, and ready to compete on every front, from the field to the transfer portal to the NIL boardroom.
And if the early moves are any indication, the Wildcats aren’t just adapting - they’re getting ahead of the curve.