Joel Klatt reacts to Kentucky hiring Will Stein as head coach

Joel Klatt wasted no time offering his perspective on Kentucky’s swift coaching transition, as the Wildcats moved from parting ways with Mark Stoops to hiring Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein in less than 24 hours. 

On the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX analyst praised Kentucky’s aggressive approach and expressed real confidence in what Stein brings home to Lexington: “Will Stein, the offensive coordinator at Oregon, is going to go back to his roots,” Klatt said. “He’s from Kentucky. He’s going back to Kentucky. He will be Kentucky’s new head coach. 

“I’ve known Will for a long time. I think he’s a hell of a football coach.” Klatt also noted that, in light of today’s chaotic coaching calendar, Stein will continue coaching Oregon throughout the Ducks’ College Football Playoff run while simultaneously beginning the roster-building process at Kentucky. 

The Wildcats’ decision marked a new era in Lexington after Stoops’ 13-year run, one that raised the floor of the program but ultimately ended with back-to-back losing seasons and an embarrassing 41-0 defeat at Louisville. Into that void steps Stein, a 34-year-old rising star with deep Kentucky ties. 

His father, Matt, once played at UK, both of his parents are alumni, and Stein grew up attending Wildcats games before embarking on a coaching career that accelerated over recent seasons. He arrives as one of college football’s most productive offensive minds. 

His Oregon unit ranks ninth nationally in scoring (38.2 PPG) and 13th in total offense (465.2 YPG), following a similarly explosive stint coordinating UTSA’s attack prior. He’s helped develop Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and former five-star Dante Moore, all while balancing pro-style structure with spread elements. 

“Offensively, our job is to get our best players the ball as many times as possible,” Stein has said. “It’s about the players. … We want to be an attacking offense that throws the ball down the field.”

For Kentucky, that philosophy marks a clear shift from Stoops’ defense-first identity. For Stein, it’s a rare chance to take over a program he understands intimately, and one that desperately needs an infusion of modern offensive firepower. 

Additionally, Klatt believes Stein’s youth parallels other recent breakout hires. One that he mentioned includes Kenny Dillingham’s success at Arizona State after leaving Oregon.

Now, the Wildcats will bet their future on a homegrown coach with a national résumé and a system built for today’s game. As Stein prepares for a CFP run with the Ducks while assembling his first SEC roster back in Lexington, Klatt’s reaction makes one thing clear, that this is a bold swing, but it’s also one that comes with real upside.

— On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this article.