Will Stein has barely settled into his first year at Kentucky, and he’s already made a decision that should feel familiar - and maybe a little uncomfortable - for Steve Sarkisian. Stein, an offensive-minded coach who arrived after serving as offensive coordinator for Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks, turned over play-calling duties to his OC, Joe Sloan. The result has been a fast rise for the Wildcats, along with premier wins over SEC opponents for a program that has long been underperforming.
Stein explained the thinking behind the move in plain terms:
"I do believe I'm one of the best play callers in the country, and I know why I'm in this position, but I don't want to be a great play caller. I want to be a great head coach,"
That mindset is exactly the point the Texas head coach seems unwilling to make, at least from the source’s view. Sarkisian has stayed attached to the offense and to calling plays, but the production hasn’t followed. The Longhorns’ offense has regressed, Arch Manning has regressed, and Texas hasn’t reached the level it needs to get to if it wants to succeed.
Sarkisian’s background makes the hesitation understandable. He’s spent years on the offensive side of the ball, including time as offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban and at the next level with the Atlanta Falcons. But the article’s argument is simple: that history doesn’t matter much if the current setup isn’t working.
Stein’s approach shows how that role can still be hands-on without being the one talking into the mic on every snap. As he put it:
"I'm going to be heavily involved in the offense every step of the way, but just because I'm not reading off into the mic to our quarterback doesn't mean that I'm not meticulous about what plays are being called and when it's being called,"
The point for Texas is hard to miss. A first-year coach at Kentucky has already figured out how to stay involved while letting someone else handle the play sheet.
Sarkisian, now six years into the job, has seen staff turnover and roster changes, but one constant has remained: he’s still the one calling plays. And according to the source, that’s the thing Texas needs to rethink.
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Texas May Be Missing Its Biggest Defensive Difference Maker
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That is a significant hit for a Longhorns defense that has leaned on Simmons' ability to change games off the edge. He already sits third on Texas' all-time sack leaderboard and had been chasing the program's single-season sack record, which makes his absence more than just a lineup tweak as the Longhorns prepare for a key SEC matchup. [Read more 🡒]