The Kentucky Wildcats didn’t waste any time turning the page. Less than a full day after parting ways with longtime head coach Mark Stoops, the program has found its new leader - and it’s a name that brings both fresh energy and deep local roots.
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein is set to take over in Lexington. The deal isn’t official just yet, but both sides are reportedly in the final stages of locking it in. For Kentucky, this hire isn’t just about X’s and O’s - it’s about bringing in a coach who understands the program on a personal level.
Stein’s story starts in Louisville, where he led Trinity High School to three state championships as a quarterback. He walked on at the University of Louisville and eventually earned a starting job.
But don’t let the red jersey fool you - Stein’s heart has always been with the blue and white. His father, Matt Stein, played for legendary Kentucky coach Jerry Claiborne and even helped take down Tennessee in Neyland Stadium.
The family has had season tickets ever since.
“I grew up a die-hard Cats fan, actually,” Stein said in an interview before the 2024 season. “My dad played there, so I went to every game at Commonwealth Stadium. I grew up in really SEC football.”
Now, he’s coming home - this time, to lead the program he once cheered for from the stands.
Stein’s coaching journey has been anything but conventional. After finishing his playing career, he followed Charlie Strong to Texas as an analyst.
But instead of waiting around for the next big college job, he took a leap - heading to the high school ranks in 2018 to call plays at Austin Lake Travis, one of the top prep programs in the country. It was a bold move that paid off.
In two seasons, his teams went 26-4 and featured future NFL talent like Garrett Wilson.
From there, Jeff Traylor brought him to UTSA, and Stein’s rise didn’t slow down. By his final season in San Antonio, the Roadrunners were a top-15 team nationally in scoring, passing, and total offense. That success earned him a shot at Oregon, where he’s spent the last three seasons dialing up one of the most explosive offenses in college football.
In Eugene, Stein has crafted three straight top-15 offenses - each with a different quarterback. Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore have all thrived under his watch.
This season, the Ducks rank ninth in the country in scoring (38.2 points per game) and 13th in total offense (465.2 yards per game). That’s not just consistency - that’s adaptability, innovation, and results.
What makes Stein’s system click? It blends pro-style concepts with spread principles - a modern, adaptable scheme that’s built to put playmakers in space. But if you ask Stein, he’ll boil it down to one simple philosophy: “Feed the Studs.”
It’s a mindset that could be exactly what Kentucky needs. The Wildcats haven’t had a 3,000-yard passer since Mike Hartline in 2010. Developing quarterbacks has been a consistent challenge in Lexington - but that’s one area where Stein has a clear track record of success.
Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley showed flashes of promise this season, throwing for 2,160 yards and 17 total touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes. But after the coaching change, Boley admitted he was caught off guard.
“I think just moving forward, I’m trying to find the best place, wherever that may be,” Boley said. “Whether it’s here, or wherever I can kind of showcase what I can do in the best system for me.”
That system might already be on its way to Lexington.
Will Stein brings more than just an impressive résumé. He brings a vision - one built on tempo, creativity, and maximizing talent.
He’s walked on, bet on himself, and climbed the coaching ladder one bold move at a time. Now, he’s stepping into one of the toughest jobs in the SEC, and he’s doing it with the kind of passion that only comes from growing up in the bleachers.
For Kentucky, this is more than a coaching hire. It’s a homecoming - and maybe, just maybe, the start of something new.