June 11 – Will Stein, Head Football Coach, University of Kentucky

For Will Stein, the roots in Kroger Field soil run deep.

A native Kentuckian, Stein is the son of UK alumni – father Matt played football at UK and mother Debbie is an avid fan – and he inherited their passion as he grew up watching the Wildcats in the then-Commonwealth Stadium, section 128, row 13 to be exact.  He later competed in the stadium as a collegiate quarterback and assistant coach.

On Dec. 2, 2025, the family’s journey came full circle as Stein was named head coach of Kentucky football.

“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. “His deep connection to Kentucky, having grown up attending games in our stadium, gives him a unique passion for this program and this community. We are thrilled to have him leading the Wildcats onto the field next fall, and I know Big Blue Nation will join me in giving a warm welcome to Will, his wife Darby and their children, Joey and Demi.”

“Will Stein brings two invaluable qualities to the table as the next head coach of the UK football program,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said. “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. And he has a deep and abiding passion for this place. It runs deep with him and his family.

“He understands the Big Blue Nation, this university and what this team and program mean to our Commonwealth. We are looking forward to welcoming Will and his family back home and we can’t wait to support them as they further elevate our program in a way that makes Kentucky proud.”

“I’m honored and excited to become the next head coach at Kentucky,” Stein said. “Growing up in Kentucky and sitting in the stands at UK games as a kid, I could only dream of one day leading the Wildcats. This is truly a dream come true. My goal is to lead with purpose and help young men grow on and off the field. I’m deeply thankful to President Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart, and Big Blue Nation for the trust they’ve placed in me. I also want to thank Coach Dan Lanning and the entire Oregon staff for their support and mentorship, they’ve been incredible. Now, I can’t wait to get started and make Kentucky proud.”

Stein, 36, returned to the Commonwealth from the University of Oregon, where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three seasons.

One of the many attributes that sets Stein apart is his ability to tailor his offense to his players’ strengths. Year after year, he’s designed systems around quarterbacks with very different skill sets, and each one thrived, helping lead elite units and Heisman Trophy finalists each of the past two years.

QBs Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel went on to start multiple games in the NFL in their rookie years as well.

Paced by a high-scoring offense, the 2025 Ducks finished the 2025 season 13-2 overall, including an 8-1 mark in the Big Ten. The No. 5 Ducks advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff with a 23-0 win over No. 4 Texas Tech before falling to the eventual national champion and top-ranked Indiana, 56-22. It marked just the fifth loss in the last three years for the program. The Ducks were the only team in the country to win 13 games each of the past two seasons, tying the program record for single-season victories first set in 2014.

Stein’s unit ranked tied for 10th nationally in scoring at 36.9 points per game.  His attack was well-balanced as the Ducks averaged 198.6 rushing yards per game and 253.6 passing yards per game. The total offense of 455.2 yards per contest ranked 16th in the nation.

Individually, sophomore quarterback Dante Moore completed a pinpoint 71.8 percent of his passes – fourth in the country – for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He ranked eighth nationally in passing efficiency.

Stein’s offensive philosophy – “Feed the Studs” – keeps numerous players involved.  Three Ducks running backs had at least 673 rushing yards in 2025, with all three averaging more than 5.8 yards per carry.  Six pass receivers had at least 26 catches on the year.

In 2024, Oregon went 13-1, winning the Big Ten regular season title and the league championship game over Penn State.  The Ducks advanced to the College Football Playoff as the No. 1-seed, with the season’s only loss coming in the Rose Bowl.

As a team, Oregon averaged 34.9 points per game, 157.9 rushing yards per game, 279.5 passing yards and 437.4 yards total offense.

All-America quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions.  He ranked in the nation’s top 10 in completion percentage (3rd), passing efficiency (7th), passing yards (8th) and TD passes (8th).  He went on to finish third in the Heisman Trophy balloting, was named Big Ten Most Valuable Player and was drafted by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

Once again, the passing game spread the wealth, as eight players caught at least 21 balls.  Running back Jordan James jetted for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking 18th nationally in each category.

Stein’s first season at Oregon, under Coach Dan Lanning, was 2023. His offense was prolific immediately, leading the nation in passing (346.9 yards per game), completion percentage (77.2 percent), first downs (372) and fewest turnovers lost (7). The Ducks placed second in scoring (44.2 points per game) and total offense (531.4 yards per game).

Led by quarterback Bo Nix, Oregon went 12-2, topped by a win over Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. Nix threw for 4,508 yards while setting an NCAA record in completion percentage (77.4) and leading the nation in completions (364) and touchdown passes (45). He was second nationally in passing yards and passing efficiency, also fifth in yards per passing attempt. Nix was third in the Heisman voting and a first-round NFL draft choice by Denver.

Oregon had a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Bucky Irving ran for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns while Troy Franklin (1,383 yards, 14 TDs) and Tez Johnson (1,182 yards, 10 TDs) topped the millennium mark.

Stein went to Oregon from UTSA, spending three seasons with the Roadrunners. He served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2020 and ‘21, then was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the ’22 season.

With Stein as co-OC in ‘22, UTSA ranked No. 12 in the country in total offense, 476 yards per game, No. 13 in passing (300.7 yards per game) and No. 14 in scoring (36.8 points per game).

Quarterback Frank Harris blossomed under Stein’s tutelage, ranking fifth in the nation in total offense (4,665 yards) and ninth in total touchdowns (41).  Harris was named the 2022 Conference USA MVP.

During Stein’s three seasons at UTSA, the Roadrunners had a 30-10 record, advanced to three bowl games and won the 2022 CUSA regular-season championship and C-USA title game.

A native of Louisville, Stein has football heritage, as his father, Matt, was a defensive end for the Wildcats under Coach Jerry Claiborne.  Matt was a two-year letterman in 1983 and ’84, playing for UK’s teams that made consecutive appearances in the Hall of Fame Bowl.

Will Stein played his high school ball at Trinity High School, where he was a three-time state champion and set the single-season school record for touchdown passes with 54.

Stein played at the University of Louisville from 2008-12, then moved to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2013 (quarterbacks) and quality control coach in 2014 (wide receivers). He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2011, and Master’s in business administration in 2014.

Stein coached at the University of Texas from 2015-17 as a quality control assistant, helping coach the wide receivers for two years and the quarterbacks in ’17.

In order to get play-calling experience, Stein moved to Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator from 2018-19.  He helped lead the Cavaliers to a two-year mark of 26-4, featuring back-to-back appearances in the state semifinals of the Class 6A Division I playoffs.  He rejoined the college ranks at UTSA in 2020.

He and his wife Darby have two children, Joey and Demi.

Rotary in Review

COACH WILL STEIN: “I PLAY EVERY GAME TO WIN!”

A packed Rotary house was introduced to Will Stein, who took over on December 1, 2025 as the head coach of the UK football program. He did not disappoint. Coach Stein began his remarks by recognizing the tragic passing three days prior of defensive lineman Nic “Happy” Smith, noting the impact the loss of the teammate has had on those in the UK program and on others who were close to Nic. Coach said that Nic will be honored this season and continuing thereafter by the UK football program.

Coach Stein remarked that he believed the word “culture” is overused and perhaps not the best descriptor of the true heart of a program or club or business. “We talk about our DNA traits in our program; it’s really what we’re built on. … We define it by our DNA traits—who we really are inside.” Under Coach Stein, the DNA traits can be remembered by the acronym “CATS”. The number one DNA trait is “connection.” Connection means actually knowing in a real way those who are a part of your team or organization – “knowing their ‘why,’ knowing their ‘purpose,’ knowing their ‘story’.” It’s not just players knowing players, but players and coaches knowing each other so that the relationships become transformational as opposed to simply being transactional. Coach Stein said that viewing the transfer portal in terms of connection turns a potential negative into an opportunity to affect a young person in a positive way.

“Accountability” is the second DNA trait of the UK football program, meaning “be where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, when you’re supposed to be there with perfect effort.” Coach surmised that the world would be a much better place if everyone followed that simple rule.

“Toughness” is the third DNA trait. Coach noted that while football is tough, so is life. He believes that no other sport better prepares young people to be prepared to confront the difficulties of life and to turn challenges into successes. Football teaches resilience and mental toughness, and that even when we come up short of where we had hoped to be (whether on the field or in life), the journey has nevertheless made better people of us.

“Sacrifice” is the final DNA trait. “To me it’s taking care of the name on the front [of the jersey], so the name on the back prospers,” opined Coach Stein. “Doing something extraordinary requires sacrifice. You can’t just expect to get what you want in life just by showing up.”

Summing up his comments, Coach Stein said that when asked his expectations for the season, he said “I play every game to win! I don’t know how else to do it. … Don’t tell me it can’t be done. I’m not a guy who likes the word can’t; I’m going to push this program forward.”

Asked about the nature of the offensive and defensive schemes we will see from UK this fall, Coach Stein characterized the offense as a modern, pro-style offense that will utilize multiple sets and personnel packages. “It’s all about being really good at something, and then dressing it up a million different ways” to manipulate the various defenses that will be faced. The defense will be an attacking-style utilizing multiple fronts, man-to-man coverage along with some zone principles.

With respect to roster depth, Coach Stein noted that with transfer rules and NIL, the days of teams stockpiling great depth are over. That is why, although the transfer portal is a modern necessity, recruiting high school players remains important in building the developmental talent necessary to provide solid depth.

Asked about the biggest challenge he faces, and what the community could do to help in that regard, he responded that we all need to continue to support the team by showing up for games and, quite frankly, support for needed NIL monies. He said that a championship caliber roster would run about $35 million, while next year’s will be around $40 million, and it is expected to continue to rise.

Regardless of the challenges ahead, this fall promises to be an exciting new chapter of UK football!

– Louis Hatcher