<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/">Kentucky</a> is hiring Oregon offensive coordinator <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/will-stein-177513/">Will Stein</a> as its next head coach, sources tell On3. The move comes less than 24 hours after the Wildcats <a href="https://x.com/On3sports/status/1995326172998029642?s=20">fired</a> head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/mark-stoops-132239/">Mark Stoops</a>, ending a 13-year tenure.



The former Louisville quarterback’s father, Matt Stein, played defense for Jerry Claiborne at Kentucky. He also grew up attending Kentucky games and both his parents are UK alums. He’s developed quarterbacks <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/bo-nix-11186/">Bo Nix</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/dillon-gabriel-37002/">Dillon Gabriel</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/dante-moore-29804/">Dante Moore</a> over the last three seasons in Eugene.



The quarterback position has been a struggle for Kentucky in recent years, something Stein would be able to address immediately. His first move when he arrives in Lexington will likely be to build a relationship with Cutter Boley. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound redshirt freshman started 10 games this season, throwing for 2,160 passing yards on 66% passing with 17 total touchdowns.



He’s worked in the high school and college ranks at Texas and has spent the past two years succeeding on the West Coast. This year, Stein’s offense ranks ninth nationally in points per game (38.2) and 13th in yards per game (465.2). That success follows a stint at UTSA, where Stein’s offense ranked ninth in yards per game (486.1) and 12th in points per game (38.7) in 2023. 



“Offensively, our job is to get our best players the ball as many times as possible,” Stein previously said. “It’s not — plays are highly overrated. It’s about the players and here at Oregon, we have unbelievable players. Really excited to work with them. “We really base out of a pro-style offense but with spread principles. RPOs, run action pass, play action pass. I like to think that we’re multiple in our personnel groupings and our formations, and we want to be an attacking offense that throws the ball down the field.”



Stoops had two 10-win campaigns and brought stability to the football program in Lexington. A 41-0 loss Saturday to rival Louisville marked the end of his tenure, though. He finished 72-80 as Kentucky’s head coach.

Will Stein-Oregon-Kentucky

On3 Football

Kentucky set to hire Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as next head coach

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