Should Will Stein Call Plays at Kentucky? Depends Who You Ask

The last week has been an eventful one on the World Wide Web, particularly for this Kentucky football reporter.

On Saturday night, BBN was on fire after Mark Stoops‘ fiery “zero percent chance I walk away” comments. Within 24 hours, Kentucky was looking for a new head coach. Before you knew it, Will Stein was on his way to Lexington.

All of that change elicits quite a response on social media. Surprisingly, none of that news popped quite like this message from Thursday afternoon:

Will Stein will not call plays for Kentucky.

“I don’t want to be a great play caller. I want to be a great head coach.” https://t.co/6KzBKgYD5o pic.twitter.com/Hc5nWVOkPs

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 4, 2025

Kentucky football fans believe in Will Stein, but they are split in their belief of how he should operate the program, particularly the offense. Let’s make the case for each.

Why Stein Should Call Plays

Will Stein would not be a candidate for this job if he was not one of the best play-callers in America. During his three seasons in Eugene, Oregon ranked in the Top 5 nationally in points per drive, and he sent two quarterbacks to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. This season might be his most impressive feat yet. The Ducks have been depleted by injuries, yet he’s found a way to find a way.

Many Kentucky fans believe Stein should be shouting into the headset behind a play-sheet because it gives his offensive unit an advantage. It’s what he does best and he should use every weapon at his disposal. The best way to Feed the Studs is to have Stein direct the production. Right?

Why He Should Not Call Plays

Remember that Tweet I sent? For the first few hours it lived on Twitter, the responses were primarily from concerned Kentucky fans. “Why did we get this guy if he’s not going to do what he does best?” Then, On3’s Chris Low reposted it to the national college football audience. Fans of the schools you hate praised it.

Florida fans wanted Billy Napier to give up play-calling for years. He initially said he would after the 2024 campaign, decided against it, then got fired. Tennessee fans want Josh Heupel to be a “real” head coach and give up the sticks. Bengals fans bemoaned Zac Taylor. A Texas fan told Sark to take notes. There was even a Jedd Fisch photoshop from a Washington Husky fan.

posted up outside fisch’s house if you need us https://t.co/pK8xCo5nfA pic.twitter.com/WtY6lhnj7p

— the doogfather (@thedoogfather) December 5, 2025

Lane Kiffin was once considered the best play-caller in the sport. His team didn’t reach the CFP until after he handed over that responsibility. Ryan Day didn’t win a National Championship at Ohio State while calling plays as a head coach. The person Stein succeeded at Oregon, Kenny Dillingham, never called plays at Arizona State and took his team to the CFP in year two.

There is more than one way to skin a cat. Stein is choosing a road that has been well-traveled to success. That doesn’t mean he’s giving up all control of his offense.

“I’m going to be heavily involved in the offense every step of the way,” Stein said. “But just because I’m not reading off into the mic to our quarterback doesn’t mean that I’m not meticulous about what plays are being called and when it’s being called.”