Will Stein is wasting no time assembling his staff, and the picture is starting to come into focus. As of now, seven key positions have reportedly been filled, giving us a clearer sense of the direction Stein wants to take on both sides of the ball.
On offense, Joe Sloan is expected to take the reins as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Sloan brings a reputation for quarterback development and tempo-based schemes, which could signal a fast-paced, aggressive identity for the offense. Joe Price III is reportedly set to handle the wide receivers, while Cutter Leftwich will oversee the offensive line-a foundational hire that says a lot about Stein’s priorities in the trenches.
Defensively, Jay Bateman is in line to serve as the defensive coordinator. Bateman has experience dialing up pressure while keeping things structurally sound on the back end-a balance that could be key for a unit looking to establish consistency. Anwar Stewart is expected to coach the defensive line, Tony Washington Jr. will work with the edge rushers, and Josh Christian-Young is reportedly slated to handle the safeties.
While those roles appear locked in, a few key spots are still in flux-namely, running backs and tight ends. The running backs position, in particular, has seen some movement behind the scenes.
Initially, it looked like Jabbar Juluke was the top target for the running backs coach role. But Texas moved quickly to scoop him up when he became available, forcing Stein’s staff to pivot.
Joe Sloan recently followed New Mexico State’s David Cobb on social media, which raised some eyebrows, but as of Monday, Cobb had not interviewed for the job. Another name that surfaced during the search was Duke’s Chris Foster, who has built a solid reputation in the ACC.
However, word is that the staff may now be heading in a different direction.
That brings us to Kolby Smith, a name gaining traction as a likely target. Smith, a former NFL running back and fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007, has been around the coaching block, most recently serving as Arkansas’ interim offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
While Smith wrapped up his playing career at Louisville just before Stein arrived there, the two did cross paths on the coaching staff in 2014. That familiarity could be a factor as Stein looks to build a cohesive and aligned staff.
There’s still some shuffling to be done, but the framework is taking shape. With a blend of experienced coordinators and rising assistants, Stein is clearly aiming to create a staff that can both recruit and develop at a high level. As the final pieces fall into place, the vision for this program is starting to look a lot more defined.