Will Stein has officially rounded out his first Kentucky coaching staff, and the final piece brings a familiar name with a strong resume. Parker Fleming is set to join the Wildcats in 2026 as the special teams and inside wide receivers coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Fleming is no stranger to high-level football. He’s coached at four different programs, three of which reached the College Football Playoff this season-a testament to the caliber of environments he’s worked in. His coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at Ohio State, and from there, he carved out a niche working with wide receivers and special teams units across the country.
After a stint coaching receivers at James Madison, Fleming moved to Texas State, where he handled both special teams and offensive positions, including quarterbacks and wideouts. But his most notable run came when he returned to Ohio State in 2018.
He started in a quality control role and was eventually promoted to special teams coordinator, a position he held for three seasons. Most recently, he served as an offensive analyst under Stein at Oregon, helping shape one of the more innovative offensive systems in the country.
Now, he’s back on the field in a hands-on role, and his arrival in Lexington signals a continuation of Stein’s strategy: blending familiarity with fresh energy. Fleming becomes the second former Ohio State staffer to join Stein in the Bluegrass, alongside Tony Washington Jr.
While the previous staff leaned heavily on deep Ohio ties-especially under Mark Stoops and his Youngstown connections-Stein isn’t abandoning that pipeline. He’s just giving it a new look.
Fleming’s resume shows a coach who’s worn a lot of hats and worked across various levels of the game. His special teams background is especially valuable in today’s college football landscape, where field position, hidden yardage, and game-changing plays in the third phase can swing momentum in a heartbeat. And pairing that with inside receiver responsibilities suggests Stein wants a coach who understands both the nuance of the passing game and the details that win games on special teams.
Here’s a quick look at Fleming’s coaching timeline:
- 2025 - Offensive Analyst, Oregon
- 2021-23 - Special Teams Coordinator, Ohio State
- 2018-20 - Quality Control/Special Teams, Ohio State
- 2017 - Special Teams/Quarterbacks Coach, Texas State
- 2016 - Special Teams/Wide Receivers Coach, Texas State
- 2014-15 - Wide Receivers Coach, James Madison
- 2012-13 - Graduate Assistant, Ohio State
With Fleming’s addition, Stein now has his full on-field coaching staff in place-ten assistants tasked with setting the tone for a new era of Kentucky football. While there’s still room for analysts and support staff (a dedicated tight ends coach could still be on the way), these ten are the core group. They’ll be the ones grinding on the practice field, leading position meetings, and helping develop the next wave of Wildcat talent.
It’s a staff that blends experience from elite programs with a shared vision under Stein. And with Fleming now in the fold, Kentucky’s special teams and inside receiver rooms are in capable hands heading into 2026.