There’s a new name in Lexington, and it’s one that’s already turning heads on a national level. Will Stein, Kentucky’s newly minted head coach, is stepping into the SEC spotlight with some serious momentum behind him. According to ESPN’s Bill Connelly, Stein ranks 10th among the top 30 coaching hires for the 2025-26 cycle - a strong nod of approval in a league where coaching talent runs deep.
So what’s fueling the early optimism? For starters, Stein brings a sharp analytical mind and a knack for engineering high-octane offenses.
He’s built a reputation for maximizing talent and putting points on the board, a formula that’s increasingly vital in the ever-evolving SEC. And while most of his coaching roots trace back to Louisville, Stein’s ties to the state of Kentucky give this hire a bit of local flavor - something that could go a long way in building trust and energy within the program.
Of course, Stein’s not walking into a vacuum. The SEC coaching carousel was spinning fast this cycle, and he’s joining a conference that just added some serious firepower.
Lane Kiffin made the biggest splash, jumping from Ole Miss to LSU and landing the top spot in Connelly’s rankings. It’s a move that sent shockwaves through the league, and one that immediately raises the bar for everyone else.
Right behind Kiffin is Jon Sumrall, who checked in at No. 4 after a stellar run at Tulane. Turning a program with limited resources into an 11-win team doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a league where roster depth and athleticism often separate contenders from pretenders.
Then there’s Alex Golesh at Auburn, ranked 12th, who’s already begun to breathe life into a program that had lost its footing. Pete Golding steps in at Ole Miss at No. 15, offering continuity in the wake of Kiffin’s departure, while Ryan Silverfield rounds out the SEC hires at 24th, now tasked with keeping Arkansas competitive despite some clear talent gaps.
That’s the field Stein is stepping into. It’s crowded, it’s competitive, and it’s full of coaches with something to prove.
But Connelly’s ranking suggests Stein isn’t just another name on the list - he’s seen as a potential difference-maker. There’s even a comparison to Dan Lanning, whose own rise from high-risk hire to national contender at Oregon has become something of a blueprint for modern coaching success.
Like Lanning, Stein has shown he can run efficient, explosive offenses and develop players under pressure - two skills that translate well in the SEC crucible.
As Kentucky turns the page and looks ahead to the 2026 season, the question isn’t just whether Stein can hold his own in the SEC - it’s whether he can elevate the Wildcats into a legitimate threat in a league that rarely gives anyone a free pass. With heavyweights like Kiffin and Sumrall now in the mix, the coaching battles alone are worth the price of admission.
But if Stein’s past is any indication, he’s not here to just survive the SEC gauntlet - he’s here to shake things up. And based on early returns, he might just have the tools to do it.