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Kentucky

Report: Kentucky hiring Joe Sloan as offensive coordinator under Will Stein

Danby: Daniel Hager16 hours agoDanielHagerOn3

Kentucky is hiring former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to the same position under new head coach Will Stein. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported the news on Thursday afternoon.

Sloan had been with LSU since the beginning of the 2022 season. He was the program’s QB coach for two seasons, until he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2024. Sloan was relieved of his duties after eight games this season.

Following LSU‘s 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M on Oct. 25, Sloan was let go alongside head coach Brian Kelly. After opening the season ranked No. 9 in the Preseason AP Poll Rankings, the Tigers compiled a 5-3 record through eight games, forcing a change from the top down.

With Sloan as LSU‘s offensive coordinator, the program averaged 28.6 points per game across his 21 games in the position. He was even more successful in his role as the program’s quarterbacks coach, as he played a pivotal role in Jayden Daniels‘ Heisman Trophy win in 2023.

Will Stein and Joe Sloan have worked with talented, pro QBs in recent history

Between Stein and Sloan, Kentucky will be getting two strong, offensive-minded coaches who have helped lead pro/soon-to-be pro quarterbacks Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore to success in recent history. At his introductory press conference on Wednesday, Stein revealed what he wants out of his quarterback next season.

“Everybody wants to look at height, weight, speed. I mean, I’ll be the first one to tell you that’s where you start kind of in recruiting,” Stein said. “Do they fit the measurables? As a quarterback, it’s so much more than that. Do they have the mental makeup to be the toughest MF’er on the field? That’s what they have to be, mentally and physically tough. That’s really where it starts with me.

“Then, processing ability being extremely accurate. I think if you look the guys that I’ve coached recently, all over 70% passers. If you’re not over 70% at high school, what makes you think you’re going to be 70% in college? We look at that. Arm talent only takes you so far. You rarely throw it 70 yards unless it’s a Hail Mary situation.

“Can you be accurate, throw on time, withstand the confines of a pocket? In today’s modern football, you have to be mobile. Doesn’t mean you have to be a 4.3 guy or run extremely fast, but you have to be able to escape outside the pocket and make plays outside with your feet.”

Much like Stein, Sloan was also a college quarterback. Sloan starred at East Carolina from 2005-2008 and began his coaching career at USF in 2010. He then made his way to Louisiana Tech, where he remained for eight seasons prior to jumping to LSU. After a less-than-stellar mid-season exit from one SEC program, he’ll look to rehabilitate his image this season at another SEC program.