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12/01 22:39 CST Kentucky hires Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as new
coach of the Wildcats
Kentucky hires Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as new coach of the
Wildcats
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) --- Kentucky has hired Oregon offensive coordinator Will
Stein as their new coach, bringing home someone whose father played for the
Wildcats and who grew up watching them play.
Athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced the hiring Monday night hours after
Kentucky fired Mark Stoops, who had been the Southeastern Conference's
longest-tenured coach with 13 seasons with the Wildcats until Monday morning.
"Will Stein brings an outstanding track record of developing elite quarterbacks
and leading some of the most dynamic and successful offenses in college
football," Barnhart said in a statement late Monday night.
Kentucky noted Stein and his family sat in section 128, row 13, at the football
stadium now called Kroger Field.
"His deep connection to Kentucky, having grown up attending games in our
stadium, gives him a unique passion for this program and this community,"
Barnhart said. "We are thrilled to have him leading the Wildcats onto the field
next fall."
This will be the first head coaching job for Stein, 36. The Louisville native
won three Kentucky high school titles at Trinity and walked on at Louisville to
play quarterback. His father, Matt, played at Kentucky for coach Jerry
Claiborne.
Stein recalled growing up in Kentucky and sitting in the stands for Wildcats'
games with this job only a dream now come true. He thanked Oregon coach Dan
Lanning and the Ducks' staff for their mentorship and the trust placed in him
by Kentucky officials.
"Now, I can't wait to get started and make Kentucky proud," Stein said.
Stein has spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach at Oregon. Stein plans to coach with the fourth-ranked Ducks
(11-1) at No. 6 in the latest CFP rankings with the final bracket announced
Sunday.
Oregon's offense with Stein ranks ninth in the nation scoring 38.2 points a
game. The Ducks are 13th in total offense with 465.2 yards per game with a nice
balance averaging 218.4 yards rushing and 246.8 passing yards per game.
Kentucky targeted Stein not just because of his ties to the state or the
university through his family. Stein has worked with a Heisman Trophy finalist
each of the past two seasons in quarterbacks Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. Both
started games in the NFL as rookies.
"He is an outstanding developer and coach of young talent, something he has
proven repeatedly in his career already as a quarterbacks coach and offensive
coordinator at an elite level," Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said. "And he
has a deep and abiding passion for this place. It runs deep with him and his
family.
Barnhart said Monday morning that Kentucky had started a national search for
Stoops' replacement, and it wrapped very quickly. Barnhart also promised that
Kentucky will be investing to recruit not only an elite head coach but players
and support staff along with fully funding revenue-sharing and facilities.
Stein walked on at Louisville for Steve Kragthorpe between 2008 and 2009 and
Charlie Strong from 2010-2012 capping his tenure with a Sugar Bowl win over
Florida.
He went into coaching as a graduate assistant in 2013 at Louisville helping
with quarterbacks before working with wide receivers as a quality control coach
in 2014. He joined Strong at Texas as a quality control coach in 2015 and 2016,
then coached quarterbacks in 2017.
Stein was offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Lake Travis High
School in 2018 in 2019 before going to UTSA. He was promoted to co-offensive
coordinator and coached quarterbacks in 2022 helping UTSA rank ninth nationally
in total offense.
Kentucky is the sixth SEC program to change coaches this season, joining
Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, LSU and Mississippi.
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